Belvidere Hospital, Parkhead

Moderators: John, Sharon, Fossil, Lucky Poet, crusty_bint, Jazza, dazza

Postby onyirtodd » Sun Apr 22, 2007 2:08 pm

crusty_bint wrote:Dugald, how long have you been in Canada?

The point you and Josef are missing is that the Executive is providing the majority of funding for the velodrome, .......................... .


Will the Executive be using their own money or, as usual, ours :?:
238 to 127. All in all a good afternoon's work
User avatar
onyirtodd
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 3176
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:40 pm
Location: a car park near you

Postby crusty_bint » Sun Apr 22, 2007 4:59 pm

It comes from the Block Grant therefore comes out of the national (UK) purse, not from Glasgow Council Tax payers if that's what you're alluding to.
here i go, it's coming for me through the trees
crusty_bint
-
-
 
Posts: 4425
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:52 pm
Location: Glasgow

Postby Dugald » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:31 am

" Dugald, how long have you been in Canada? "

Crusty-bint, I can't think of any useful contribution to this discussion that would be provided by an answer to your question, but the reason for it is quite clear, and you have every right of course, to highlight my lack of bone fides : it's been a long time since I paid taxes in Scotland. Although residing in Canada, I found the topic interesting because at one time I was involved in the cycling sport in the West of Scotland and, having had an interest in international sporting events for a long time, I thought my opinion regarding a velodrome and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, might be of interest to some people.

"The point you and Josef are missing is that the Executive is providing the majority of funding for the velodrome, and its not just a velodrome, its a complex of 2000 seat velodrome, 5000 seat National Indoor Sports Arena and the new HQ of Sport Scotland,..."

Yes, I missed this point. Well, I didn't really miss it, I just wasn't aware of it. I don't know what it means anyway. I feel however, regardless of who is said to be providing the funding, that ultimately it will come out of someone's pocket. By coincidence, the city where I live has started construction of an indoor sports arena and the cost has already soared far above the original cost.

"...your assumption that it will be used once is one borne of naivety. "

Oh, I don't think so Crusty-Bint, I think rather, my assumption stems from experience. I've mentioned the 1976 Olympics, and I know of two other velodrome-style tracks in Ontario which quickly fell into disrepair and disuse, and I'd wager they never earned a cent! Over and above this, I recall the very best track cyclists in the world, including the World Sprint Champion, racing at Ibrox Stadium. I was among the few thousand spectators. Any time I raced at Westhorn, I'll bet all the spectators were either cyclists themselves or relatives of competitors. Can you imagine what it would cost Glasgow today to bring a World Champion to their velodrome... I can.

"The reason we are bidding for the games is because these facilities are being built, not the other way round The velodrome, along with the other facilities I have mentioned will be built".

Yes, this is a very important point. I already knew about it and I'm very pleased about it. I think it's great for Scottish cyclists, and I wish them many years of successful competitions. The Sports Centre is also great for Scottish athletes in general. I hope this makes my point of view clear that I am not averse to money being spent for the benefit of Scottish athletes... I'm all for it, but let's not hoodwink the public in order to obtain public money for a small segment of Scottish society.

Anyway Crusty-bint, thank you for your detailed explanation... I'm wiser for having read it. Cheers, Dugald.
Dugald
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 792
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:25 pm
Location: Canada

Postby HollowHorn » Mon Apr 23, 2007 12:50 am

Anyway folks, thank you for your detailed explanation... I'm wiser for having read it. Cheers, HH :wink:
Now, back to Belvidere.................
User avatar
HollowHorn
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 8921
Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 9:59 pm
Location: Paisley

Postby crusty_bint » Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:10 am

No it wasn't anything to do with taxes, I was curious (and admittedly a tad facetious) as Canada seems to have had a bad experience with hosting the games that has left a bitterness (and, granted, a debt you're still repaying) in your national psyche. However, I don't think Canada's experience is necessarily the inevitable result of hosting the games, Edinburgh has managed it successfully several times and Manchester has done particularly well from hosting a few years back.

In respect to funding, in basic terms the Scottish Executive receives a Block Grant from National (UK) Government which it then decides how it will be spent, allocating budgets to the various National Agencies to spend. So the budget for the velodrome, National Indoor Sports Arena and Sport Scotland HQ has already been allocated and isn't part of the cost of hosting the Games. The additional funding for the Commonwealth Games itself (for the various upgrade schemes and infrastructure works) will come from a different, seperate budget, allocated specifically to the Games. On top of this you have to take into account the wider context of the £1.6billion Clyde Gateway Masterplan in which the legacy of the Games plays a small, but potentially pivotal role.

I appreciate the doubts you have and realise that you're basing your opinion on experience, albeit Canada's experience. Project budgets do overrun, but say what you will about Glasgow City Council, they are particularly shrewd when it comes to large-scale and high-profile projects like this. My experience is that unless a project is financially viable, with a sound business plan and realistic budget and schedule then GCC are very reluctant to invest. And of course someone has to pay for it, you dont get nought for nought in this world, but as I've suggested, the extra investment to hold the games in nominal in comparison to the benefits to the east end and Glasgow, Scotland even as a whole.

And whilst I disagree with you, I am interested to hear your view. What I don't understand however, is that you talk of Glasgow's sporting, specifically cycling heritage in such fond and proud terms yet you have, for want of a better phrase, a pure downer on this. No-ones trying to deceive anyone, everything Iv mentioned is freely available on the web :)

Back the Bid!

...and we can all have a good mince and flounce about the hockey field...
here i go, it's coming for me through the trees
crusty_bint
-
-
 
Posts: 4425
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:52 pm
Location: Glasgow

Postby crusty_bint » Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:11 am

oh aye... erm Belvidere... one of my great grannies died there.
here i go, it's coming for me through the trees
crusty_bint
-
-
 
Posts: 4425
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:52 pm
Location: Glasgow

Postby Dugald » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:26 am

crusty_bint wrote:And whilst I disagree with you, I am interested to hear your view. What I don't understand however, is that you talk of Glasgow's sporting, specifically cycling heritage in such fond and proud terms yet you have, for want of a better phrase, a pure downer on this.

Thanks again C.B., for your detailed explanation of the finances; I think I get it now. With regard to my having "a pure downer" about Scotland's "specifically cycling heritage", let me say I don't. Scotland's, and specifically Glasgow's, cycling heritage is rich and well worth remembering. Now, back to the Belvidere. Cheers, Dugald.
Dugald
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 792
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:25 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Belvidere Hospital, Parkhead

Postby Ally Doll » Wed May 21, 2008 2:56 pm

Some information on the conversion of the building...

08/01343/DC
Site Of Former Belvidere Hospital, 1432 London Road, Glasgow, G31 4LE

Conversion and alteration of hospital building to form 6 flats with associated landscaping and parking
User avatar
Ally Doll
Third Stripe
Third Stripe
 
Posts: 1421
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 1:18 pm
Location: Dennistoun

Previous

Return to Glasgow Chat (Coffee Lounge)

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests