The party in Kelvingrove park on April 29th descended at it’s forced closure into chaos. Organisers had called for respect to be shown for the park and other users, but significant numbers of attendees, overly drunk and of ugly mood helped the event to an ungainly conclusion.

Police were in attendance in small teams during the day, many on bike for quick mobility. However, throughout the afternoon large groups of young people were heading seemingly unchecked through the park entrances with crates of alcohol. Many were clearly underage and under the influence.
Beyond a request by the Police to deflate a bouncy castle, the policing was relatively hands-off at the offset. Yet when more officers arrived in force to shut down the decks, clouds had gathered and several hours of drinking later, the response from too many in the heaving crowd, was to rain bottles down the hill. A policeman suffered a head injury as did several people scrambling for cover. A horseback-led retort alarmed those in the dip, and Police vans, motorbikes and a helicopter were all employed to control and disperse the crowd. Vans were vandalised and skirmishes continued. Hours later still, all that was left was a drizzly, rubbish-strewn park and from now on, a more intense Police focus on activities there.
The other legacy, of course, is the bill of £40,000 for the clean up. At least one GOW resident was canny enough to take the opportunity to reclaim some of the discarded cans for our can crusher recycling scheme.

UPDATE :Taxi driver dies after collision with Police van attending disorder

A GOW resident was at the park when the Police stopped the party. Send us your photos gowcommunity@gmail.com

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On Monday 3rd January on Westbank Quadrant a male student (not a GOW resident) was assaulted and had several items including his mobile phone stolen. It was about 3AM when it happened and he was approached from behind.

On Saturday 15th January a young woman reported that she was threatened by a hand gun and had her handbag stolen. It was at 7pm on the corner of Bank Street and Gibson Street, as described in this Evening Times article.

Enquiries and investigations by the specialist police street crime unit are currently on-going and there is not a suggestion that they are linked but residents should be vigilant.

Keep your close doors closed and report any suspicious behaviour to the Police.

Car tyres were slashed on Otago St and a man tried to force his way into a home on Westbank Quadrant, as a family were entering the flat door with their baby. He was only thwarted by a quick reaction and a shove to the chest down the stairs. (The events are thought to be unrelated.)

Serious criminal activity is rare in GOW, so keep safe, be watchful and enjoy our little patch.

Local Police : 0141 532 3500

Visit the Strathclyde Police website here to see who your community Police officers are

Glasgow West End Police Office (Open 24 hours)

609-611 Dumbarton Road,
Glasgow
G11 6HY
Community Team contact number: 0141 532 3520

A flat in 103 Otago street was broken into over the weekend, so as usual, be vigilant. If you see any odd or suspicious behaviour, don’t keep it to yourself :

• CALL the Police : 0141 532 3500
• TELL your neighbours

Where there are security doors, keep them closed. If a door is broken, contact your factor/landlord to let them know a repair is needed.

Close the backcourt gates after yourself and lock your close doors after putting out refuse.

DON’T just assume that “someone else will do it” ; whether calling the Police or factors. More calls just means speedier action.

It could be your laptop, TV or personal possessions next, please let’s do all we can to prevent any further break-ins or malicious fires in GOW.

They supplied the planter with soil, but it was up to us at GOW to plant it up. We added a laurel tree, an azelea, two minature cypress trees and for colour, primroses and pansies. The laurel and azelea were transplanted from our own backcourt and the rest of the plants were kindly donated by one of our resident’s parents.

Prior to Christmas one of the cypress trees was sadly ‘rustled’ by persons unknown ; perhaps to be used as mini Christmas tree ? Sadly this hasn’t been the only instance of vandalism – in the new year, the laurel tree was found half wrenched out of the soil. Luckily it’s a bush with significant roots and very heavy to move, so the dastardly plot to re-plot it was foiled.

For more spring colour, we’ve added some donated hyacinths, partly also to fill in the space left by the purloined cypress. (The pansies are looking rather forlorn after the frosts.)

The residents of 97 Otago St have been asked to keep an eye on the planter and remove any rubbish they find in it. If anyone else sees attempts to remove the plants, please let us know and to those who are sticky rather than green fingered :

Go shrub yourselves !

GOW objections to the application for a proposed extension to the Glasgow University Union license were heard by the Licensing Court at the Parish Hall, John Street.

Prior to this hearing GUU had withdrawn the request for a 3AM finish on Thursday evenings and the 2AM finish on Saturdays was accepted but this was an opportunity for a plea for greater liaison by GUU with the Community. More effective arrangements should begin in January after the holidays.

Fire in bin shed

Graffiti removed from wall behind Glasgow University building at back of car park.

Check of refuse bins indicates that a considerable amount of recyclable materials been put into the bins which will end up in landfill. The materials comprise beer cans, glass and plastic bottles and some newspapers and would significantly reduce the volume of rubbish.

18 October 2008

A party in one of the larger flats went on through the night. In recent cases neighbours received notes to let them know but not in this case. Attempts to be made by GOW committee members speak to the residents in the flat as they may be unaware of local reactions.