United Community?
Glasgow Caledonian postgraduate journalism student, Nicola Paul, approached GOW in October. She asked us for our views on the student accommodation block nearing completion on Gibson Street. Nicola has kindly allowed us to reproduce her article, first published in the community websites section of the Evening Times.
RESIDENTS in the Gibson Street area are continuing to voice concerns over a major student accommodation development as it reaches its final stages.
The building, which is being built by Unite Group, has been subject to many planning objections due to its imposing stature and design.
The plans were altered slightly, but there are fears this did not go far enough.
Members of GOW, (Gibson Street, Otago Street and Westbank Quadrant ‘triangle community’) Community Residents Group co-chairman, Eric Kay said: “The size and the scale of the structure appears to have increased since the original plans were made public.
“Now that the building is nearing completion it looks even more dominant than many local people feared.”
The building, which has 93 beds, is due for completion in January 2009.
However, a spokesman at Unite Group said no bookings will be taken until at least December, when the company can be sure that the development will be finished on time.
Unite Group maintains its student accommodation will enhance the area by boosting the local economy and creating a more balanced community.
Yet residents of the area are worried that such an imposing building will cause problems for the community, and have voiced concerns over how it will be managed, particularly as it has reported that there will not be a warden in the building.
Hillhead Community Council has also voiced concerns it will cause a demographic imbalance, pushing population numbers to breaking point.
The Gow Community Residents Group is currently organising a meeting with Unite management, and are keen to ease residents’ worries and welcoming future members to the community.
Mr Kay, said: “Residents have many questions and some anxieties, and we are hopeful these can be addressed in the near future.
