The lifeblood of Sauchiehall Street and Garnethill residents must come before the interests of the Glasgow School of Art

Govan Law Centre is looking to identify public interest litigation against Glasgow City Council, The Glasgow School of Art and Kier Construction on behalf of Garnethill residents and local Sauchiehall Street businesses over their abysmal treatment after the Glasgow School of Art fire.

Residents and businesses have been unable to enter their homes and businesses for almost 10 weeks. Not even to collect passports, car keys, medicines, children toys or clothes.

While Glasgow School of Art and Keir Construction are ultimately responsible for the fire, Glasgow City Council are responsible for risk assessment, the cordon and building control management. The decision not to let residents back into their homes and businesses into their shops, is Glasgow City Council’s call.

Residents have asked if they can get even 10-minute visits with hard hats to pick up important items, or ask if builders can go in to flats to pick up important personal items for them. Requests have been refused.  Yesterday lawyers from Govan Law Centre held a meeting with representatives of Sauchiehall Street Inner Cordon Businesses, and Pauline McNeil MSP.

Mike Dailly, Solicitor Advocate at Govan Law Centre said:  

“Thirty-three households are displaced from their homes in Garnethill. Fifty-five Sauchiehall Street businesses – with 350 jobs – are under serious threat of going bust. All of these people are the lifeblood of the local community and they have been treated as an afterthought by Glasgow City Council.

Glasgow City Council senior officers, Glasgow School of Art and privileged elites appear more interested in saving the Macintosh building than saving the community of Sauchiehall Street and Garnethill, which have been around a lot longer and are a special part of our city’s heritage.

Ordinary residents and local businesses are suffering and have lost a lot of money. It’s unacceptable to be locked out of homes for so long. Residents and businesses no longer trust that the local authority is putting their needs first. Glasgow City Council cannot abrogate or evade their statutory building control duties, and allow the Glasgow School of Art to put its own interests before local people.

Local residents have a legal right of respect for their home and family. Businesses are entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of their possessions. The local authority exposes itself to judicial review and claims if it places the interests of the Glasgow School of Art before the community, and Govan Law Centre will explore every avenue of challenge available to the local community”.

Call Govan Law Centre for more information: 0141 440 2503

 

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