Window on the Past

Cops had launched a major blitz on teenage loiterers. And the Herald revealed that police stopped and took the names and addresses of over 100 youths in Bishopbriggs.

Some had been drinking and had to be escorted home by officers.

Police had appealed to parents to check where their children were, who they were with and what they were doing.

And they said they had been inundated with calls from angry Bishopbriggs residents who had complained about gangs of youths hanging around street corners.

Inspector Graham Wright had focused special attention on certain problem areas highlighted by residents.

He told the Herald: “Whilst in essence these young people are not committing any criminal offences, there is cause for concern insofar as they gather in such large numbers which residents obviously find intimidating.

“These are respectable kids from respectable homes, but some of them had consumed alcohol and had to be taken home.

“I find it quite astonishing when taking some 14-year-olds home to their parents that it appeared they did not know where the children had been, who they were out with, and what they were up to.”

Inspector Wright added: “I would also ask for proprietors of licensed premises in Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch to be extra vigilant in who they are selling alcohol to.”

15 YEARS AGO

Community campaigner Annie Cunningham called for a rally in Kirkintilloch to address the lack of leisure facilities in the town.

Mrs Cunningham said a public rally would demonstrate the groundswell of community support for leisure facilities, which had been slowly depleted since the demolition of Kirkintilloch swimming pool.

Mrs Cunningham, a member of Kirkintilloch Neighbourhood Forum, said: “I want to see something done to get a leisure centre.

“The kids have got absolutely nothing, nowhere to go and nothing to do. I would like to see a cinema in Kirkintilloch as well as a leisure centre.

“But I really feel fed-up with it all because it’s as if the council has made up it’s mind it’s not going to build anything.

“I think a public rally is the only thing left which could help. The council is spending money left, right and centre, but not on things that matter.

“My children and grandchildren are all grown up, but I am fighting for the youngest generation who have nothing in Kirkintilloch. If we could get a public rally organised, then that would be something.”

Leader of East Dunbartonshire Council, Keith Moody, said the council was progressing with its work on the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Action Plan, which would focus on the provision of leisure facilities.

10 YEARS AGO

Council plans to reduce refuse collections from once a week to once a fortnight had been branded as rubbish by furious residents.

The Herald had been inundated with letters from angry council tax payers who feared the move would cause a health hazard and increase dumping across the district.

The decision was announced as part of the council’s budget.

One resident who wrote to the Herald said: “This is a crazy idea.

“What are families with three or four children supposed to do?

“You could have a situation where a bin containing items such as nappies and rotting food is left for two weeks.

“It will be bad enough in the winter months, but during the summer the smell will be horrendous and there will be the added problem of flies and wasps.”

Council chiefs revealed for the first time they planned to introduce a pilot scheme, before implementing the refuse collection changes across the district.

As well as reducing refuse collections to once a fortnight, the council was increasing its recycling collections to once a week.

A council spokesperson said: “The communications for changes in recycling and refuse collections are currently being finalised.

“The changes will then be introduced as a pilot in the spring, before being implemented council wide.”