response to consultation on overprovision of alcohol

Dear Sirs

I welcome the recognition by the Board that there is a growing problem in the West End, caused by the increased number of licensed restaurants and bars

The result has been that levels of antisocial behaviour are approaching that of the City centre. In fact they are the fourth highest in Glasgow. At night now, the area is full of people who have abused alcohol and behave intolerably. This is a residential area, with many families, and I know people who have been forced to move away.

The probems are spilling over into Hyndland Road. Until recently there were only two pubs there; now there are two licensed restaurants and another one about to open. These are efectively pubs with some food; one has recently been granted a late license.

Glasgow has an appalling record on health, we have higher levels of death from alcohol abuse than any other city in the UK. The levels of obesity have inceased greatly; largely due to overeating and overdrinking.

I hope the Board will begin pay more attention to the concerns of the residents and less to the comercial interests of landlords.

Yours sincerely

Alcohol consultation in Glagow

Why is life expectancy so low in Glasgow?

A lot of the blame must go to our Labour Dominated Council; they seem to show little interest in health issues.

Take the example of alcohol. In the past ten years they have allowed an increased number of pubs in some areas. This has led to more alcohol abuse and violence. Glasgow has the highest incidence of alcohol related death in the UK, by far.
Now it seems they want our views on the overprovision of licensed premises in the Byres Road area. If you have any opinions, please contact the licensing Board, before 29th October 2010 . Their email address is LicensingBoard@glasgow.gov.uk or City of Glasgow Licensing Board, 235 George St., Glasgow G1 1QZ

The Byres Road effect

Do you want Hyndland Rd. to become like Byres Rd.?



Ten years ago Byres Road was a pleasant street to live near. Now, at nights it is overflowing with drunk people, taxis and noise. People nearby get woken up at all hours and many have moved away.

The Council wants to the former off licence on 159 Hyndland Rd. to become “a bistro”, serving drinks seven nights a week till 11pm. Nicks, across the road began life as a hairdresser; it got a licence and has now become a pub with restaurant attached. People on Hyndland Road are finding the noise wakens them at night and some have already decided to sell their flat.
Another licensed premises will change the nature of the street and the rot will have started. This is your last chance to protect your quality of life.

You can object to this change by:

Putting your concerns in writing and sending them, by email, letter or fax, by 12th November to: The Licensing Board, 235 George Street, Glasgow. Fax No. 0141 287 5569.
Email: LicensingBoard@glasgow.gov.uk

Also contact your local councillor

spend spend spend

The governor of the Bank of England is urging us to spend more to help the economy. At the same time he is rigidly sticking to his outdated Keynesian doctrine. He doesn’t seem to appreciate that the world has changed since the 1920’s. There are many more older and retired people now; and they rely on income from savings and investments. With interest rates at such low rates for so long, their incomes have been decimated. Just how does he expect them to spend money they don’t earn? Go into debt?

Economics of the madhouse

Ian Gray, the Leader of Scottish Labour has little understanding of economics; it appears that he has never worked in business. How else could he seriously propose increasing the hourly rate of pay for lower paid employees in the public sector? He obviously doesn’t appreciate the financial mess we are in. The Government is currently spending about £140 billion more per annum than it receives in taxation; much of that goes in wages and salaries. Employees in the public sector already earn more than those in the private sector, and that is before you consider their superior pensions and conditions.

air pollution in Glasgow

I read that Edinburgh City Council is taking positive steps to tackling air pollution. Large polluting cars will have to pay more for a parking permit; low emission vehicles will pay less.

Once again the inertia of Glasgow City Council in tackling this issue has been shown up. Glasgow’s air pollution is about the worst in the UK and little has been done to reduce it. Having a few Greens on the council has made no impact.

When you consider that our record on heart and lung disease is so bad, it is possible that air pollution is contributing to our poor life expectancy.

Flooding in Pakistan

The flooding in Pakistan, the worst in about a century, ought to remind us of the damage we continue to inflict upon the environment. If you are not convinced, consider what is occurring in Russia. They are suffering the worst drought and heat wave since records began.

Meanwhile, governments continue to fret about the economy and bankers’ bonuses; virtually ignoring the problem of climate change.