Evening Times - June, 2009
E mail to Evening Times
During the restoration of Glasgow Green, Glasgow City Council strived to make the Park as safe as possible.
Through its Water Safety Working Group and the Glasgow Humane Society a water safety remit was included
Fencing was realigned, the type of fencing changed from horizontal bar (a ladder) to vertical bar, and different heights of fencing were decided for various sites relevant to the dangers of that site.
Emergency yellow gates with lifebelts and global satellite position numbers, yellow boxes to prevent parking across during events were included.
Limited signage is used to remind public of the dangers of water.
Banking is cleaned regularly to assist the wildlife and to prevent persons going on to the banking unseen
No lifebelt boxes are used in order that the public can see immediately if the lifebelt is in place.
Part of the design of the St Andrews Bridge was altered making it safer.
Glasgow Humane Society Officers and Lifeguard Corp patrol the Glasgow Green area and often with assistance from the Park workers, remove anything from the river and riverbank that would attract persons, especially children, to the water.
Safety outwith the Park on the River Clyde is constantly being reviewed.
Glasgow Humane Society has marked lifebelt stances upriver as far as Westhorn (Belvidere) and downriver as far as Yoker and is having success in combating the vandalism that constantly occurs to these lifebelts (over 1000 lifebelts are thrown by vandals into the river Clyde every year, are collected and returned to their stances by City Council or Humane Society). Other lifebelts and safety equipment are kept by Clubs, Public Houses, Restaurants, Hotels, Casinos and other establishments along the length of the river.
The entire River inside the Glasgow boundary between Carmyle and Yoker is steadily forging ahead of expected/normal safety standards.
Public are encouraged to keep dogs on leads when near waterways, for their own safety, the safety of the dog and the safety of wildlife.
The Glasgow Green area is an example of what we can achieve without being overpowering, without preventing enjoyment in our wonderful Parks.
Yes, it would be nice to expand this safety work to other Parks and areas (Note that lifebelts are in place at Richmond Park and that Park Rangers at Hogganfield, Kelvingrove and Alexandra Parks carry safety equipment and have been trained: that lifebelts are available on the Cart at Strathclyde Police Dog Training Centre and at Scottish Power HQ).
I would be writing another newspaper to list the safety work carried out by the Glasgow Humane Society and the City Council in partnership.
As money becomes available other areas of the City will be brought up to the standard of Glasgow Green, in the meantime, it is up to all of us to be careful, to think about what we are doing, and to think of the example we may be setting to younger persons or to those less experienced.
Any Firms or establishments in close proximity to waterways are encouraged to keep lifebelt and throw rope on their premises. If you are in a position to carry this equipment do not hesitate to get in touch with the Council or the Glasgow Humane Society (who can organise a training course)
George Parsonage and Antony Coia