glasgow saddles up for BIKE WEEK

The theme this year is ‘cycling - the everyday sport’, which links the sporting aspect of cycling, and the convenience of cycling as a transport choice, especially during the summer months.

The Council’s Land and Environmental Services have organised a number of great activities to enable people to have fun, get fit and feel free on their bikes. 

Events include charity and fun guided cycle rides, information days and free bike health check clinics throughout the week, culminating in a fun 'Try Cycling' event as the Company of Cyclists bring a range of conventional and more specialised bikes for every one of all ages to test in George Square on Sunday 24 June from 11am.

As part of Bike Week, pupils from Bellahouston Academy, Whitehill Secondary, St Mungo's and Bannerman High Schools are running their own events including cycling the Pollok Park Mountain Bike trails and Bellahouston Cycle track as well as sponsored bike rides along Glasgow's traffic free cycle network.

Councillor Ruth Simpson, Executive Member for Land and Environmental Services, said: "We want to see many more Glaswegians get on their bikes and work their way to a healthier and less congested city.  This is a great opportunity for our citizens to come and try for themselves a selection of cycles and use them in a safe, supported environment."

For the full list of events visit http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GettingAround/Cycling/bikeweek2007.htm

Anyone can run a Big Draw event – large organisations, small community groups or keen individuals. All we ask is that drawing is the main focus and that the Big Draw logo appears on all promotional materials. Registration is now open and they hope you will join in. Please start now by entering your contact details on their free online database www.thebigdraw.org. Every organiser who registers receives a free copy of the Drawing Inspiration Awards book, illustrating last year’s winning projects, and a CD of practical strategies and publicity materials. These are packed with inspiring ideas and show how organisers have used limited resources and unlimited imaginations to get everyone drawing. If you apply (successfully) for a £500 Drawing Inspiration Award after your event, you could feature in the next book!

The main focus of the event is mid-October (Big Draw Day is Saturday 13), but you can run events any time in October. With competing pressures on calendars, their themes are broad, allowing links with Family Learning Week, Black History Month or Apple Day. Visit www.thebigdraw.org to find out more

Customers at Pollokshaws West Station will soon be in a spin as the vacant buildings on the platform ‘brake’ out in a new lease of life, thanks to a joint partnership between First ScotRail and South West Community Cycles.

First ScotRail was approached by South West Community Cycles, a charity run by a voluntary committee proactive in promoting health and education in the South West of Glasgow, after they heard about the train operator’s ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme.

The charity was looking for suitable premises in which they could set up a bicycle hire and repair centre, complete with cycle sales as well as refurbishment and cycle repair training, which was within close proximity to Pollok Park. The benefit of this location is due to the two major tourist attractions close by - The Burrell Collection and Pollok House – just a bike ride away!

First ScotRail is fully supporting the proposal and has agreed to lease the unused station building in order to develop the venture. Also involved in the grand plan is CEIS which is helping to develop the project, Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC) who will be sharing the offices with SW Community Cycles and The Railway Heritage Trust, whose key objective is to bring surplus railway property back into use.

John Yellowlees, external relations manager at First ScotRail, said, “This is a great opportunity and I am delighted that we are able to support this initiative in providing suitable premises. In supporting local schemes such as this, we can help further improve the environment of our stations, making them more attractive places for customers.

“Our ‘Adopt a Station’ scheme has been a great success since it launched in September 2005 and we have been thrilled with the quality as well as quantity of proposals coming in. We hope that this addition will encourage more people to put forward proposals for other stations.”

Donna Foote from SW Community Cycles said, “The building at Pollokshaws West Station is ideal for us to operate from and we are delighted that First ScotRail have agreed to let us use it. The benefits are numerous - everyone in the area knows where it is, we’ll be right next to Pollok Park and there is direct access to the trains.

“Cycling is such a great activity for keeping kids and their parents healthy – and something they can do together as a family. We believe that cycling should be available and affordable for everyone in South West Glasgow and that’s what we are working towards.”

Peter Hayman of Cyclists’ Touring Club, added: “It is great that First ScotRail is providing this accommodation which we will be sharing with SW Community Cycles. Our plan is to use the space to house our office, where we can focus on cycle related work in Scotland.”

Pollok Leisure Centre is to close on Sunday 4 March for ten months to allow refurbishment works to be carried out under the Pollok Civic Realm Capital Project, a project that is developing and improving Pollok Town Centre.

This ten month period of work will see the relocation of the existing library and learning centre to The Wedge to create an expanded facility, new frontage and information hub.  The Wedge, a community facility, is based at 1066 Barrhead Road in Pollok.

The space vacated by the relocation of the library will be refurbished and a fitness suite provided.  The roof of the swimming pool will be replaced as part of the work.

Groups who regularly use Pollok Leisure Centre are being relocated to other venues during the period of the refurbishment works.

Councillor John Lynch, Executive Member for Cultural and Leisure Services at Glasgow City Council, said:  “This work will give the people of Pollok and the surrounding area an outstanding leisure facility, and regular users will be accomodated in other facilities while the work takes place.”

The first stage of the Pollok Civic Realm Project - the improvement of Pollok Health Centre and incorporating Social Work Services - is now nearing completion.

For further information, please call Pollok Leisure Centre on 0141 881 3313.