MSP's Mission for Safer Pavements

Last night I was looking in the paper and then I came across a story about a Glasgow MSP that wants to stop vehicles from parking on pavements. The article was in the Evening Times, on page 2 and it was written by Stuart Paterson, political correspondent. The article caught my eye because I've seen double parking with my own eyes, and I know how disruptive it can be.

Earlier this year, the Evening Times reported residents in Yorkhill who are frustrated by double parking, cars left on pavements and blocking the way for others. The Glasgow MSP, Sandra White, wants to cut down the amount of cars being parked on the pavements. Sandra has backing from charities that represent visual impaired people and disabled people. A spokeswoman for Guide Dogs Scotland said "I don't there is a malice but inconsideration. The time is right for this..." Ms White has proposed a responsible parking bill to introduce enforcement. She was quoted saying "Pavements are for people, not cars. There are parts of Glasgow that have problems with double parking. If you're blind or in a wheelchair or with a pram, it is ridiculous. It is criminal that you can't walk on pavements." Charities are supporting the plan for this bill in the Scottish Parliament. 

To conclude this story, I would like to give you my thoughts about parking on the pavements. I totally agree with Sandra White, parking on the pavements is a hazard for people with certain disabilities or children. The one thing I don't agree with is on her quotation, I think she was a little bit harsh when she used the word criminal. I agree that it shouldn't be happening, but I don't agree that it's a criminal offence.

Q1. Was it right to call it criminal? 

Q2. Why do you think people park on pavements?

Q3. Would you park on the pavements, knowing it might block pedestrians?

Gordon Lane: The most dangerous lane in Glasgow?

This week, I was reading the newspaper and I came across a really interesting article. The article I read was in the Evening times and was about a particular street in Glasgow. This street is being used for criminal activity. I think that this is tragic because all this crime is going to influence other members of society, especially children. Not only this, but crime makes people feel unsafe. I think people should be able to feel safe in their own city. However, it's clear that if something is not done about the crime, then the problem will only get worse, and the rate of crime will increase.

The street in question in Glasgow is called Gordon Lane. It runs from opposite the Lighthouse and Mitchell Street, onto Gordon Street. It was planned to be used for refuse bins. However, the lane has increasingly been used by convicts. Such as drug dealers, criminals, and drunks. Police figures show that there has been a signifcant number of crimes in the past year. These include the sexual assault of a young woman, possession of drugs, abusive behaviour, fouling, threatening and drinking alcohol.

Here are some of the facts and figures about Glasgow Lane:

The area around Gordon Lane had 2305 crimes and offences in 2011-2012.

The same area has the second overall crimes in Glasgow:

• It had 13 robberies.
• 24 serious assaults.
• And 248 minor assaults, all of which were in 2011-2012.
• There were 84 cases of possession of drugs in 2011-2012, which was up from 50 in the year before.
• There were 18 crimes of indecency in 2011-2012, which was up from 9 the year before.

In attempt to solve the problem, Glasgow City Councillors have agreed to put gates up on the privately owned lane. I believe that this is a good thing because the gates might help with controlling the crime in the lane, and then the crime might stop. However, these gates now stop people from using the lane, as a shortcut, or tourists, or otherwise. I think that the gates are a good idea, but they may not stop the crime. At the end of the day, people can jump over gates, and if people really want to use the lane for crime then they will, even if it means getting their head stuck in the gate trying to get through.

All in all, I think the gates are a good idea but I'm not sure if they'll stop the crime. However, something needs to be done about crime in Glasgow as it is obviously getting worse each year.

Q1. What do you think about crime in Glasgow?
Q2. Is there something more that the government could do?
Q3. Do you feel safe in Glasgow?