Press Release:
A southside community project to create a new civic space, at the gateway to Hampden, has taken a big step forward thanks to securing two new pots of money.
The Letherby Triangle project, led by Mount Florida Community Council, has been awarded funds from the Big Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government, delivered through Sustrans’ Community Links programme.
The triangle is situated near Hampden Park, directly in front of Mount Florida Primary School and between two main roads (Cathcart Road and Carmunnock Road) in and out of the city centre. The space is presently largely inaccessible because it is surrounded on all three sides by busy roads and parking. In addition, it is over-grown with trees and has not been maintained for public access.
The Community Council, known as MoFloCoCo, has consulted with hundreds of local residents over the unused triangle to develop initial designs. The funding has allowed the community council to appoint specialists to investigate the feasibility of closing one of the roads to create a civic space and improve road safety.
The MoFloCoCo Chair, Chris Carus, said: “This is great news for our project to create a new civic space that the community sorely needs. Thanks to Sustrans Community Links programme and Awards for All Scotland we have funding to help us make the Letherby Triangle a reality. It is a strategically significant site and one with potential to greatly enhance the neighbourhood of Mount Florida and the wider community of the southside of Glasgow with a valuable community resource, a city landmark and key civic space. The plans will make it safer for children to access the school.
“Following the great news that the home of Scottish football will remain at Hampden, we hope our Letherby Triangle project will make it easier for fans to access the stadium, particularly if they’ve arrived by walking or cycling.
“This funding has allowed us to appoint contractors and we’re pleased this feasibility study is now underway. We’re also reaching out to other sources of funding, to local residents for their continued input, and to Glasgow City Council for support with the project.”
Susan Aitken, the Leader of Glasgow City Council and a Langside councillor, is a big supporter of the project. She said: “Letherby Triangle has long been a slightly odd bit of green space, marooned in the middle of a busy road and largely unused as a result. Mount Florida Community Council recognised its potential as a community space and has developed fantastic plans to make that happen. I’m delighted that they’ve now been awarded funding to help make that a reality and congratulate them on a great outcome of all their efforts.”
Archie Graham, a Langside councillor, said: “This is great news. The partnership working between the local community in Mount Florida and Glasgow City Council has been extremely successful. I would like to thank all the people in Mount Florida who have worked so hard to get the proposal to this stage.”
Peter Dallas, Managing Director of Hampden Park Ltd said: “Hampden Park supports the efforts led by Mount Florida Community Council to improve Letherby Triangle. This is an area that experiences heavy footfall on event days due to its proximity to the stadium. Opening up this area will make access more attractive and improve the overall event management experience for fans and residents alike. Hampden Park looks forward to contributing to the next stages of design and consultation.”
You can read more about MoFloCoCo’s plans here: https://www.moflococo.org/current-projects-2/letherby-triangle-project/
Pingback: Letherby Triangle Project – Mount Florida Community Council