Govan Law Centre takes council to task over ‘abysmal’ treatment of Sauchiehall Street residents in wake of art school fire

Mike Dailly

Residents and businesses have been unable to enter their homes and businesses for almost 10 weeks, with all requests being 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.”