The Turning Point charity is a lifesaver for those dealing with drug addiction. But it has been dealing with severe cash cutbacks in recent years despite the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council declaring a drug deaths crisis.
Turning Point provides the only service of its kind in a city that sees more drug deaths than any other in Scotland. But today we report that this vital service is facing closure of its Glasgow site after a sky-high rent demand from Glasgow City Council’s property firm.
There is no doubt that times are hard for the council. Balancing the budget has become an impossible task, particularly with the extra challenges posed by a homelessness crisis. But surely it is beyond countenance that the council could stand by and watch a vital charity service close its doors due to a rent dispute.
It seems harsh to impose such demands on an organisation that relies on public grants to survive. The Scottish Government has made vague noises about its concerns over the closure threat.
But just a few years on from the announcement of a national mission on drug deaths, it seems remiss of ministers to regard the issue as a local affair. After all it was the decision to starve local authorities of funds with a council tax freeze that put many frontline services in trouble in the first place.
It is fair to claim that lives are on the line if Turning Point closes its doors in Glasgow. The council and the Scottish Government must thrash out a rescue package that proves they have not abandoned their commitment to deal with our scandalous drug deaths.
Scotland used to lead the world when it came to civil engineering. The Forth Bridge, the Caledonian Canal, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct were all marvels of their age.
But now the country struggles to fix an ugly but vital stretch of motorway on time and on budget. Most Scots drivers will instinctively know the Woodside viaducts as the part of the M8 near Charing Cross in Glasgow where traffic regularly grinds to a halt.
Work to prop up the crumbling 1970s structure has been grinding on now since 2021. Best estimates are it will be finished by the end of next year, but transport bosses can’t say for sure.
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The worst part is, this time and expense is only for a temporary fix. The viaducts will require even more work to survive long-term. That’s if a decision isn’t made to demolish them. Surely Scots drivers can expect better than this mess.
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