8/5/2009We want to save last piece of citys historic barracks
MARYHILL Barracks was once home to one of Scotland's most prestigious army regiments and famously held Hitler's second-in-command Rudolf Hess during his"peace" flight to the UK.
Now Glasgow City Council's deputy Labour leader Jim Coleman is facing a fight with local residents over claims he wants to demolish one of the last remaining parts of the historic site.
The Barracks, which was home to the famed and feared Highland Light Infantry, was a Glasgow landmark for more than 100 years before it was demolished in the early 1960s to make way for the Wyndford housing estate.
However, the former Barracks' walls and gatehouse are still there and form a perimeter around the estate.
It is understood Mr Coleman, who is heading a new regeneration committee for the Wyndford area, believes the wall is divisive, and isolates residents from the rest of the city.
The councillor made the comments to Maryhill residents who were attending a meeting in his Baillieston ward this week.
But that angered residents, who say it will destroy an important part of Maryhill's history.
A council spokeswoman said Mr Coleman would not comment on future plans by the regeneration committee, but stated the council had no proposals to remove the barracks' wall at this stage.
But residents are forming an action group and plan to contact heritage groups in an attempt to safeguard the wall.
Tracy Wilson, 34, said:"We asked Mr Coleman about the regeneration plans and he said one of the first things he wanted to do was to get rid of the Barracks' wall.
"He said it isolates the people in the Wyndford estate from the rest of Glasgow.
"The wall is an important part of Maryhill's history and there are people whose grandparents were stationed there.
"A lot of people actually feel secure because of the wall.
"Some residents are trying to get something in place to make sure that it is protected."
A spokeswoman for heritage group Historic Scotland said residents were entitled to make a claim for the wall to be offered listed status.
The Barracks, which were home to the Scots Greys and then the Highland Light Infantry, provided a temporary billet for Nazi deputy leader Rudolf Hess during the Second World War after his supposed"peace" flight to the UK.
In 1942, the Free French leader, General Charles de Gaulle, visited French troops there.
Many local people refer to the area as"the Barracks".
For many Glaswegians, the barracks has remained infamous for its role in the Black Friday riots in 1919.
After the riot, soldiers from Maryhill, armed with machine guns, tanks and a howitzer, occupied city streets for a week.
When Sir Roger, Kelvingrove's elephant, was put down more than a century ago, his last companions included soldiers from the Barracks.
The end of the Barracks came in 1959, and the land was speedily targeted for housing.
A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said:"The council has no proposals to remove the Barracks' walls surrounding the Wyndford estate.
"Councillor Coleman is leading a special team of council officials who will work with parents and other community activists to look at ways to improve the area, but no meetings have taken place with this group.
"The community's input will be crucial in helping the council to develop future plans for Wyndford."
Historic Scotland gets around 300 requests a year from individuals, local authorities and amenity groups for buildings or structures to be listed.
As well as buildings, walls, fountains, statues, bridges, band stands and even telephone boxes can be listed.
A decision on whether a building merits the protection listing brings will follow an inspection by a team of Historic Scotland experts, who also carry out research to help understand the importance of the building.
After consultation with the local planning authority, the owner and an independent third party, Historic Scotland will then make a recommendation on behalf of Scottish ministers as to whether a building should be listed.
Once a building is listed, the local planning authority must approve any plans to demolish or alter it.
Mr Coleman was not available to comment because he was out of the country.
We should fight to keep the barracks wall it is part of Maryhill and Glasgow's history
Keep those councillors from destroying a very important Maryhill Landmark, the people who thought this idea up should be kicked out on their ear, maybe if it was past then maybe the people who proposed it may get a backhander,I can remember we used to call the piece of pavement next to the wall, no-man's-land
Does Mr Coleman not realise that the wall is a historical landmark? obviously not.
What with all his empty idea of development and regeneration, and this is all he can come up.
He claims that the wall isolates the community from the rest of the city, rubbish.
They are free to come and go from the barracks, it's not like they are prisoners.
Think he should jut leave the wall well alone and stop proposing such stupid ideas.
i came to maryhill as a young soldier aged 17 and stayed at Maryhill barracks for 2 years.
I loved every minute of my time there and loved the people.
I shall never forget Maryhill, the Roxy and the Pie suppers.
I am now 70, how i wish I was 17 again and walking up the Maryhill Road.
HANDS OFF THE WALL, ITS PART OF GLASGOW'S HISTORY