Gorbals housing sale delayed

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IN the face of mounting opposition to its plan to hive off the Hutchesontown 'E' housing scheme in the Gorbals (Glasgow) to private enterprise, the Labour Group on Glasgow District Council has now stated that no decision on the future of the scheme will be taken until discussions have been held with the District Labour Party and the local Constituency Labour Party.

At first sight, this seems a considerable climbdown. By a majority of 21 votes to 19, the Group had previously voted specifically not to inform the Party of its plans for privatisation. This is the seventh major decision since 1980 which the Group has taken without any prior consultation with the Party.

In fact, though, the climbdown is more apparent than real. At the discussions, the Labour Group representatives will argue that there is no alternative to privatisation. Meanwhile the council has gone ahead with putting the scheme out to tender.

Scheme

The Stop the Sale Campaign (SSC) is demanding that the scheme, which suffers from structural dampness, should be completely demolished and replaced by decent council nousing, after full consultation with the local community to ascertain the October *7 24 3* 22 23 1 523 in needs of the area.' Support for the SSC continues to grow.. Local community and Labour newspapers such as Glasgow Tenant, Strathclyde Labour Briefing and Glasgow Fightback have all backed the SSC as have a number of Labour Party branches and constituencies. NALGO is being contacted by the SSC to appeal for blacking of all work connected with the possible sale of Hutchesontown 'E' But the Labour Group has been attempting to discredit the SSC. Some members of the Group have insinuated, for example, that the SSC is unrepresentative of local feelings in the Gorbals or is merely a front for "left wing extremists" in an attempt to scare away support for the campaign.

The right wing in the local CLP have likewise aided and abetted the Labour Group's attempt to undermine support for the SSC, for example by turning down proposals for joint public meetings and other forms of joint work with the SSE.

The immediate task for the SSC is to restore to the centre of attention the basic political issues posed by the sale of the scheme (defence of public sector housing, accountabilty of the District Labour Group) and thereby defeat attempts to undermine support for the campaign.

For further information about the SSC contact: Stop the Sale Campaign, C/o Laurieston Information Centre, Block 80, Stirlingfauld Place, Glasgow GS.