Window on the Past

Soaring interest rates were threatening to ruin property owners with mortgages.

That was the message from North Lanark MP John Smith as rates were threatening to reach more that 13 per cent.

He said: “I have a lot of them in North Lanark and I know what they are up against.

“They saved up for a deposit on a house and calculated they could pay it off on a mortgage with eight per cent interest.

“No they are faced with 11 per cent mortgages and building society chiefs are muttering about 13 per cent.

“Instead of paying off their house in 25 years, some of these owner-occupiers could be leaving their mortgage in their will.”

April 10, 1974

A group of schoolboys appeared at Kirkintilloch Juvenile Court accused of playing football in a “forbidden part” of Kirkintilloch.

The youngsters had been enjoying a regular kick-about near Redbrae Road, in the Hillhead area.

But they were reported to the fiscal by locals fed-up at the noise - even though a “very well known” professional footballer often joined their games.

At court the boys were told that the main reason they had been summoned was to “impress on them and others that football must not be played there”.

None of the boys were punished, on the understanding they wouldn’t play there again.

April 11, 1984

Cleaners in 26 of Strathkelvin’s schools were supporting a work to rule called by the Transport and General Workers’ Union in a dispute over a new system of illness cover.

The row was over a new council policy which said that when any cleaner was off sick, their colleagues should cover them for five days before any temporary replacement would be provided.

Some classrooms had been left uncleaned for days, while a toilet at Harestanes Primary had to be CLOSED because it had been ignored all week by angry staff.

A union spokesperson said that they were seeking an emergency meeting to resolve the dispute.

April 5, 1994

Residents lost a battle to prevent a petrol station and garage from selling crates of BOOZE.

Councillors on the Licensing Board had granted an off-sales licence to the Shell garage at Westermains, in Kirkintilloch, despite a barrage of objections.

Both Hayston Residents’ Association and Kirkintilloch Community Council were opposed to the proposal.

A spokesperson said: “We’re disappointed that this has been given the go-ahead.

“We felt that it was crazy to sell alcohol along with petrol. It could tempt people to drink and drive.

“We also believe the proposal will lead to more litter problems.”