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Charlie Gordon MSP is a Member of the Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee and is the Spokesperson for Transport and Infrastructure for the Scottish Labour Party. He is also a Member of three Cross Party Groups; Carers; M.E. (Myalgic Encephalitis) and Glasgow Crossrail. The costs of this website have been met out of parliamentary resources.
"This website was established while I was a Member of the Scottish Parliament. As the Parliament has been dissolved there are no Members of Parliament until after the election on 5 May 2011".
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Serving the communities of
News Update
Gordon Repeats Call for Bus Regulation – 17th March 2011
Glasgow Cathcart MSP, Charlie Gordon has once again called on the Scottish Parliament to legislate to regulate the bus industry in Scotland.
It was back in 2009 that Charlie first called for bus regulation in the form of his Private Members Bill which he brought to Parliament following on-going problems faced by bus passengers throughout Scotland. The bill failed to proceed through the Parliamentary process due to insufficient cross-party support.
Speaking in the debate Charlie said “Throughout this parliamentary session, we have fought for free bus travel for people who are on the lower rate of disability living allowance. We have fought for demand-responsive transport operators, such as community transport groups, to be admitted to the free bus travel scheme. Our campaign to force the Scottish Government to emulate the previous United Kingdom Labour Government’s pioneering success with a green bus fund was a triumph.”
During the debate members of the SNP, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties re-affirmed their view that bus regulation was not necessary and that the status quo provided a sufficiemnt service to bus users.
However, at the conclusion of his speech, Charlie said: ”Here is Labour’s message to Scotland’s bus users, former bus users and would-be bus users. If you want local bus services that are more responsive—buses for people, if you will—with reasonable fares, through-ticketing, co-ordination with other bus services and modes of transport, and vehicles that are cleaner, greener and more accessible, board Labour’s bus: we are going your way.”
You can read the text of Charlie's Opening and Closing speeches.
Gordon Welcomes New Law to Tackle Rogue Landlords – 17th March 2011
Today the Scottish Parliament passed the Private Rented Housing Sector (Scotland) Bill after months of consideration.
Charlie Gordon has led a campaign in his constituency to raise awareness of the legislation during the consultation period and throughout the committee stages of the Bill as it made its way through the Parliamentary process.
The new Bill strengthens the 2004 Anti-Social Behaviour Act, including tightening powers around the private landlord registration scheme. This now offers additional support to local authorities to help them deal with landlords that are not complying with the scheme.
In particular it will expand the criteria of the fit and proper person test that landlords need to pass to become registered and introduce other measures to allow local authorities to enforce the scheme more effectively.
The new law also amends existing legislation relating to the private sector tenancy regime including a requirement for landlords to produce a pre-tenancy information pack for any potential tenant.
Speaking in the Stage 3 Debate in the Scottish Parliament, Charlie said: “When the bill is enacted, it should spell the beginning of the end for rogue landlords. It should also be a big setback for unregulated, irresponsible letting agents. That is a good thing, as they currently do little or nothing to vet the suitability of potential tenants.”
You can read Charlie's full text by clicking here.
BUS SERVICES IN HILLPARK, MANSEWOOD AND AULDHOUSE – 11th March 2011
Charlie Gordon MSP has been campaigning to reverse the decision by First Glasgow to reduce the frequency of the 29 bus service from a half hourly service to a hourly service.
Last week Charlie personally delivered over 500 protest letters to First Bus headquarters in the south of Glasgow. Earlier this week Charlie received a response from the company’s Managing Director, Ronnie Park.
Charlie is encouraged by Mr Park’s letter which says that First Bus and SPT are exploring options on how to improve bus services in these communities. Charlie intends to pursue this campaign until a satisfactory outcome for Hillpark, Mansewood and Auldhouse residents is achieved.
Still on the bus front, Charlie did receive some good news from SPT this week. Charlie had copied SPT in on the protest letters he received and as a result SPT entered discussions with Colchri, the operators of the existing 375 service.
Colchri and SPT have agreed to amend the current route of the 375 service to include Hillpark. This will allow residents in Hillpark to travel to the Silverburn Shopping Centre. This is a new bus service for Hillpark and Charlie welcomed this result.
Charlie will be keeping constituents in Hillpark, Mansewood and Auldhouse of developments with regard to the 29 bus service.
2nd March 2011 – “Immediate Action to Cut Fuel Costs Needed Now” – says Charlie Gordon MSP
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Charlie Gordon MSP has called on the United Kingdom Government to reverse it decision to increase the rate of VAT from 17.5% to 20% to help motorists and haulage companies in a time of higher and higher fuel prices.
In a Debate in the Scottish Parliament this week, the Glasgow Cathcart MSP said:
“Labour has consistently opposed the increase in VAT to 20 per cent, which has helped to push up fuel prices to their current record levels at a time when world oil prices are high for reasons that we do not need to go into. With the economic recovery of the UK not yet secured, this VAT on fuel is the wrong tax at the wrong time and it is hitting families and businesses hard.
Labour is calling for the UK chancellor, George Osborne, to take immediate action on fuel prices to ease the pressure on families who are already facing a tough year, with their incomes squeezed. George Osborne should not just forget about the next increase in fuel prices, which is scheduled for April; he should reverse the VAT increase on fuel, which has added nearly 3p to the cost of a litre of petrol at a time when world oil prices are rising.”
Click to read Charlie’s Opening Speech and his Closing Speech in the debate.
Auditor Confirms What Public Knew...THE ROADS NEED FIXED! - 18th February 2011
Charlie Gordon MSP is a long-term campaigner for proper investment in roads and he has welcomed Audit Scotland’s recent report confirming a backlog of at least £2.45 billion in vital repairs to our roads.
“I successfully pressed the Scottish Government, both last winter and this winter to give local Councils more cash to repair local roads, something which is top priority according to my post bag”
“But the Auditor’s report proves that what has been spent so far is inadequate. All politicians must listen to the public and fix damaged roads and pavements.” said Charlie.
You can download Audit Scotland’s report by clicking here.
Worried About Winter Heating Bills? Help Is At Hand. - 16th February 2011
Glasgow Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon is urging people who are concerned about managing their energy bills to contact the national Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) for help and advice.
The move comes after recent research found that 59,000 households across Glasgow are missing out on free help with their energy bills.
According to the research, published by the New Policy Institute (NPI) on behalf of the Home Heat Helpline, the 59,000 households in Glasgow are among 418,700 across Scotland missing out on free help from their energy companies such as insulation grants and reduced tariffs.
Charlie Gordon MSP has stressed how important it is for anyone across his constituency struggling with energy bills - or simply wishing to make their home more energy efficient – to get in touch with the helpline and find out what assistance is on offer.
Lending his support to the Home Heat Helpline service Charlie Gordon MSP said: “I want to ensure people across Glasgow who may be worried about their fuel bills that there is help and advice available. As the recession continues to squeeze household budgets, it’s better to find out what’s out there and make sure it’s well in place before the cold snap returns next winter. “
Christine McGourty, spokesperson for the Home Heat Helpline says: “Free help is available to people struggling to keep warm this winter, but too many are failing to claim because they don’t think the help on offer is meant for them. We need to break down those barriers so that more of us claim what we’re entitled to.’’
The Home Heat Helpline has trained advisers who can help access grants for insulation, special reduced tariffs as well as advice and support on how to keep warm and save money on energy bills. The national helpline – which is based in Glasgow - has received over 190,000 calls since it launched in 2005.
The Home Heat Helpline has received support from Age Scotland; Citizen’s Advice; Energy Action Scotland; Energy Saving Trust; Poverty Alliance and One Parent Families Scotland/ Gingerbread. The service also allows worried householders or their relatives, friends and carers to make their enquiry online by clicking here.
Mansewood and Hillpark Constituents Answer Charlie's Call - 11th February 2011
Charlie Gordon MSP (centre) and staff members Malcolm Cunning (left) and Ian Cruikshank (right) plough through the responses.
Charlie Gordon MSP has had a significant response to his campaign calling on FirstGlasgow to restore the timetabling of the 29 bus service to a half hourly service.
Earlier this month the bus company reduced the timetabling of this vital service to one per hour.
Charlie contacted constituents in Hillpark and Mansewood who are most affected by the drastic cut and has had an overwhelming response.
In the first two days of providing constituents with a suggested protest letter, Charlie received more than 200 responses.
Charlie said "The sheer volume of people from Hillpark and Mansewood returning my protest letter speaks volumes and I will be personally handing all the letters to First at their Glasgow headquarters next week."
It is not too late to join Charlie's campaign click here to download a copy of Charlie's suggested protest letter and email it to charlie.gordon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk or print a copy and post it to:
Charlie Gordon MSP, Lesser Hampden, Somerville Drive, Mount Florida, Glasgow, G42 9BA
Bus Battle Is On – 4th February 2011
The recent reduction in frequency of First Bus’s 29 bus service to hourly is totally unacceptable to Hillpark and Mansewood residents and to Glasgow Cathcart MSP, Charlie Gordon.
In early January, Charlie wrote to First Glasgow’s Managing Director, Ronnie Park, asking him to restore the service.
He pointed out to the company that Hillpark and Mansewood has many residents without cars and that the area is so hilly that walking is not an option for most people.
Charlie has also written to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, which subsidises the 29 bus in the evenings and at weekends, asking them, if necessary, to bolster the day time frequency.
Long term Hillpark resident Hugh Gourlay also added his voice to calls for the 29 bus to be restored to its original half hourly service. He said “Hillpark has only one bus service and this reduction is appalling. First Glasgow must look at the timetabling again and re-instate this vital link. I support Charlie Gordon MSP’s campaign and urge Hillpark residents to add their name in support.”
Hillpark resident of 25 years standing, Edith Quinn, was the first to sign up. Edith signed Charlie’s suggested letter of objection and said “I rely on the bus and now find getting to the shops and the library more difficult. I hope First reconsider this dreadful decision.”
If you are affected by this reduction in service, you can join Charlie’s campaign either by contacting the constituency office or by downloading his suggested protest letter (click here) and return it to his constituency office. Responses will be collated and hand delivered to FirstBus Glasgow by Charlie Gordon MSP.
Please send your letter to:
Charlie Gordon MSP, Lesser Hampden, Somerville Drive, Mount Florida, Glasgow, G42 9BA
Charlie will ensure that your views about the 29 bus are relayed to First Bus and to SPT and will write to you keeping you updated on the progress of the campaign.
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