A bit of an atypical post here—a personal piece from Chloe, the Planning Rep and website/newsletter creator. I am taking a slight advantage of this position to say thank you to you all, and goodbye.
Some of you might remember my flatmate Josh coming to our events, looking to spread awareness of the 22% rent increase we had faced. Unfortunately, this rent has pushed us out of our flat, and I will soon be moving to North Kelvinside. Because of this move, I will have to step down from Calton Community Council on the 21st, and so this will be my final website post.
My time in the Planning role has been a perfect complement to studying architecture, constantly reminding me of the real-world implications of those fancy squiggles tutors encourage! When I started at Strathclyde in 2020, I was new to Glasgow, but joining the Community Council made me feel welcome and connected to the city, particularly to this vibrant part of the East End.
I’m really grateful for everyone I have met at or via the Community Council—especially those of you who were there at the beginning, helping set it back up in 2021. Being involved in events like the litter picks and the Alexandra Parade School Fayre has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful individuals and groups. Beyond the council members themselves, I’ve enjoyed getting to know groups like Community Land Scotland, local politicians and councillors, and passionate community-first businesses and artists. I would never have had the opportunity to work on the Dream Park (in the Collegelands Park proposals) without these connections! Working with you all has made my time here so meaningful, and has made me want to work in community-focused architecture in my future career!
Although I’m moving, I won’t be going too far. I would love do a Masters project focused on the Calton area, so despite the physical distance, I am hoping I can still be connected to you all. I’m sure that the group will continue to grow, taking part in more events and supporting residents for years to come. There’s so much potential in a Community Council, and I’m excited to see what comes next.
Because of this, I also want to take this opportunity to invite anyone who feels passionate about Calton to join the Community Council. The council needs fresh perspectives and new ideas to keep pushing forward, and I’m sure one of you reading this will be perfect for the role. At first, I didn’t think I was ‘Calton’ enough – I still am very aware that my English-accent and student status make me an outlier of the community! But it doesn’t matter who you are, if you care about the area you live in, the Community Council is perfect for you.
Thank you all so much for everything. It’s been a privilege to be a part of this community, and while I’m stepping down, I’ll definitely still be keeping an eye on what’s happening in Calton.
Warm regards and best wishes to you all, Chloe
Thank you for both your contribution and dedication towards community governance , the ongoing dynamism and success of Calton Community Council since its re-establishment in 2021 is in no small part a consequence of your support . The ‘ Online ‘ webpage , updates and community engagement is second to none throughout Glasgow’s Community Council network .
May I take this opportunity to wish you every success in your endeavours and architectural career . And I hope you may also find both the time and opportunity to participate in both community engagement and social activism in the future .
Thank you