Good morning from Giffnock,
I truly thought that when we as a community saved Huntly Park, that would be an end to the mindless bickering. Not so. An administrator of the 'Friends of Huntly Park' Facebook group told me the suggestion that our petition saved Huntly Park was 'a joke'. Lovely!
That same individual ejected me from the Friends of Huntly Park Facebook group in the summer of 2020, after I had been undertaking litter collection in the park. Many of those in the group - to include friends of many years - supported what I was doing. It didn't take long for the nasty side of human nature to appear. I was harassed by a local coward under a fake name on the Friends of Huntly Facebook group, yet I was the one removed. Funny thing, but the administrator of the 'Go Giffnock' Facebook group excluded me too within days (the same coward used that group too). The administrators know each other. Thankfully, Police Scotland were helpful. Picture that for a moment - being excluded for volunteering in the community.
These Facebook groups look like friendly places on the face of it. They portray a warm, almost folksy feel. 'Hi folks', the administrators say. I have found them to be anything friendly. They exclude people and they feel a sense of entitlement over local subjects.
The only sense of entitlement that I am interested in is the entitlement of every member of the community to be heard; not controlled or excluded for 'not fitting in'. I have no time for local jealousies or petty mindedness. I want to see the best for our community.
I have seen a lot of very poor behaviour and equally weak representation locally. We have shown what a community can do together, by saving Huntly Park and Giffnock Library. We are effective because we work openly and inclusively - not through private groups which exclude residents when they don't take to them.
It has been suggested to me that I follow in my dad's footsteps and seek to become a councillor. My party has already asked me to do just that. I will make the decision soon.
Best wishes,
Allan