Calton residents hit out at minister's comments over needles
She said while the government cannot be 'cloth-eared' when residents are stating they believe there to be an increase in discarded needles, there was no evidence that was the case.
READ NEXT:Drugs minister said consumption room is not causing more crime or needles
The issue of public injecting and subsequent drug equipment left lying around has become heightened since the centre opened in January this year.
Public meetings have been held with local people angry at what they are seeing on the streets.
Following the minister's comments, one resident has written to the Scottish Government outlining the concerns of local people.
Scott Parsons, wrote: 'I have just read your comments in the article published by the Glasgow Evening Times.
'It is wholly disappointing that you are so ill-informed.
This is not a one-off issue - it is happening constantly across the neighbourhood.
'Your dismissal of the very valid concerns of Calton residents of the impact your Government's decision is having on their day-to-day lives and neighbour(hood) is not helpful.
'And your final comment that suggests that the residents of the Calton are stigmatising 'appropriate treatment' is both insulting to residents and embarrassing from a Government minister.
"Since when has providing Government funded facilities for the taking of illegal drugs been considered appropriate treatment?
'I would suggest that you attend one of the Community meetings and speak to residents and see the significant damage you are inflicting on ordinary people.'
Todd had said she was worried about the reports from residents but insisted the centre will make a difference to drug deaths.
READ NEXT:Outcome of inspections at 8 of Glasgow's homeless hotels revealed
She said: 'The safe consumption drug facility was sited here because it was already an area where these challenges occurred.
"So there was lots of street usage and lots of littering challenges.
"In time, I would expect that the challenges faced by the community will reduce as the confidence in this facility increases."
Annemarie Ward, chief executive of Favour UK has supported residents who want action and said they are not being listened to.
She said: 'The Minister's comments are, frankly, insulting not just because of their dismissiveness, but because they ignore both the daily evidence on the ground and clear international research on what happens when these policies are imposed without balance.
'The people of Calton are being gaslit.
'You're told to believe that what you see with your own eyes, more discarded needles, open injecting in doorways, dealers outside your homes isn't real, or that it's somehow better than before.
'And when you raise legitimate concerns, you're accused of 'stigmatising' people or of being manipulated by external groups, as if you're not capable of speaking for yourselves.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Compassion should be at the heart of welfare reform
We must remember that people affected by these issues are already struggling to cope: 67% of those seeking advice from a Scottish CAB have a disability or long-term health condition which adds significant financial and emotional cost to their lives, especially for those in remote and rural communities. People don't have enough to live on; many are grappling with debt and destitution. And such poverty is both a consequence and cause of disability and ill health, meaning the need for social security has grown alongside poverty rates. As things stand, there will be no changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) until a review has been completed in late 2026. Importantly, the UK Government has now pledged in the meantime to engage in meaningful consultation with disabled groups about future welfare provision. This is vital. It should have happened in the first place. Sick and disabled people must be able to help shape the policies that will have such a profound effect on their lives and livelihoods. We hope the review will learn from a similar review conducted into Scotland's equivalent of PIP, Adult Disability Payment. It remains unclear what impact the reforms will have on devolved social security in Scotland. Complexity could be added to the system, making it more difficult for people to claim payments they're entitled to. It is imperative the UK Government works closely with the Scottish Government to avoid this. The bill now moves to the next stage of Parliamentary scrutiny; there will be more opportunities to shape the legislation in the coming months. We remain deeply concerned about many of the changes, and the holes that they could create in the social security safety net. Holes that many could fall through, including people with fluctuating health conditions, or those who experience sudden injury or illness and are unable to work or need recovery time. Social security is an investment in all of us. It should be both a safety net and a springboard; enabling people to realise their potential and providing support during the storms of life that any of us could experience. The UK Government must work collaboratively now; to map out how social security can be reformed in a way that's not just about cost-cutting but social justice too. We're talking here about some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Compassion should not be an optional extra in this process. It should be right at the heart of it. Erica Young is part of the social justice team at Citizens Advice Scotland
Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Clinic 'offers cosmetic surgery procedures with no medical qualifications'
A woman with allegedly no verified UK medical credentials was caught offering both upper and lower eyelid procedures inside what appeared to be a dingy, non-sterile flat above a restaurant in Liverpool An undercover investigation has exposed the potential dangers of unregulated cosmetic clinics after a TV reporter was offered surgical procedures by a woman with reportedly no recognised medical qualifications in the UK. In the report, 5 News booked an appointment with a woman who allegedly has no verified UK medical credentials. Footage shows the reporter being offered both upper and lower eyelid procedures inside what appeared to be a dingy, non-sterile flat above a restaurant in Liverpool City Centre. The appointment was arranged within minutes via text, according to 5 News. However, the reporter only received the exact location 48 hours before the procedure - a flat where the woman and an assistant appeared ready to carry out the surgeries using local anaesthetic, and accepting only cash. During the appointment, the woman was reportedly prepared to begin without carrying out basic safety protocols. No medical consultation or patient history was taken, and when questioned about her credentials, she refused to confirm whether she had any. When asked by the reporter whether she was a doctor or how many surgeries she had previously performed, the woman also declined to answer. 5 News has shown its findings to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who vowed to urgently examine the legal loopholes that allowed unqualified individuals to perform risky surgical procedures that can result in life-changing harm. Responding to the footage, Mr Streeting said: 'This is an extremely concerning case you've raised with me, and I will go away now and look at the laws in place to make sure that we don't have loopholes that enable this kind of unsafe and unregulated practice.' Leading UK eye surgeons warn that when performed incorrectly, eyelid surgery can cause permanent scarring, infection - and even blindness. Despite these risks, it remains legal in the UK for anyone to perform cosmetic surgery, as long as they do not falsely claim to be a registered doctor or surgeon. Campaigners argue that this loophole puts lives in danger and are calling on the Government to take immediate action. One of the procedures on offer - upper blepharoplasty, which involves removing excess eyelid skin to create a more youthful appearance - has surged in popularity due to social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook. According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), it's now the UK's third most popular cosmetic procedure and the fastest-growing among women. 5 News has also obtained new data showing a 65% increase in complaints about backstreet surgery over the past year - rising from 404 from 2021–2023, to 667 from 2024–2025.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
Calton residents hit out at minister's comments over needles
Maree Todd, minister for drug policy, visited the Thistle Centre and the surrounding area amid reports of increased drug-taking and dealing activity in the area. She said while the government cannot be 'cloth-eared' when residents are stating they believe there to be an increase in discarded needles, there was no evidence that was the case. READ NEXT:Drugs minister said consumption room is not causing more crime or needles The issue of public injecting and subsequent drug equipment left lying around has become heightened since the centre opened in January this year. Public meetings have been held with local people angry at what they are seeing on the streets. Following the minister's comments, one resident has written to the Scottish Government outlining the concerns of local people. Scott Parsons, wrote: 'I have just read your comments in the article published by the Glasgow Evening Times. 'It is wholly disappointing that you are so ill-informed. This is not a one-off issue - it is happening constantly across the neighbourhood. 'Your dismissal of the very valid concerns of Calton residents of the impact your Government's decision is having on their day-to-day lives and neighbour(hood) is not helpful. 'And your final comment that suggests that the residents of the Calton are stigmatising 'appropriate treatment' is both insulting to residents and embarrassing from a Government minister. "Since when has providing Government funded facilities for the taking of illegal drugs been considered appropriate treatment? 'I would suggest that you attend one of the Community meetings and speak to residents and see the significant damage you are inflicting on ordinary people.' Todd had said she was worried about the reports from residents but insisted the centre will make a difference to drug deaths. READ NEXT:Outcome of inspections at 8 of Glasgow's homeless hotels revealed She said: 'The safe consumption drug facility was sited here because it was already an area where these challenges occurred. "So there was lots of street usage and lots of littering challenges. "In time, I would expect that the challenges faced by the community will reduce as the confidence in this facility increases." Annemarie Ward, chief executive of Favour UK has supported residents who want action and said they are not being listened to. She said: 'The Minister's comments are, frankly, insulting not just because of their dismissiveness, but because they ignore both the daily evidence on the ground and clear international research on what happens when these policies are imposed without balance. 'The people of Calton are being gaslit. 'You're told to believe that what you see with your own eyes, more discarded needles, open injecting in doorways, dealers outside your homes isn't real, or that it's somehow better than before. 'And when you raise legitimate concerns, you're accused of 'stigmatising' people or of being manipulated by external groups, as if you're not capable of speaking for yourselves.'
