GLASGOW 44TH SCOUT HALL

That this House is deeply concerned by reports that the 44th Glasgow Scout Hall in the Kelvindale area of the city is under threat; recognises that the scout hall on this land was first founded in the 1950s, with a new premises being built by the Scout Association in 1994 following a fire; further recognises that the 44th Glasgow Scout Group took over ownership of the hall in 2003 at a time when it was vacant and in a state of disrepair and have subsequently upgraded the premises to meet Care Commission standards; understands that the land owners Mactaggart and Mickel now wish to develop or dispose of the land and appear to have originally stated that there would be no future provision for the scout hall; welcomes a recent statement by Mactaggart and Mickel indicating that following careful consideration and discussions with Glasgow City Council, the company is willing to consider all options for the scout group which includes replacement or relocation if a suitable facility can be found; appreciates that the scout hall has been an invaluable local resource for many years in an area which has very limited equivalent community facilities and acknowledges the strength of feeling among the local community that the scout hall must be retained; notes that Mactaggart and Mickel have previously quoted a disproportionate cost for the scouts group to buy the land which far exceeds the valuation made by the group's own qualified surveyor and takes no account of the significant expenditure that the group have incurred to refurbish the hall; and encourages all parties to engage in constructive discussions to find a solution which retains a scout hall as a community resource for future generations.