Drop-in Events
Glasgow City Council are developing proposals to provide pedestrian access to Glasgow Necropolis from Firpark Street.
They are holding two drop-in events at Dennistoun Library where you can view the design options:
- Thursday 6th November, from 4:00pm to 7:30pm
- Friday 7th November, from 10:45am to 1:45pm
Background
There a quite a few facets to the story behind this GCC proposal for a Necropolis Eastern Entrance.
A timeline summary is provided below giving context for the proposal as part of various recent strategic projects, consultations, and reports that have been overseen by GCC.
Also provided below is a record of various pedestrian infrastructure and green space proposals that DCC have promoted during the last few years as a keen and engaged participant in these processes.
It is left to the reader to determine which choices and priorities are most appropriate for our area…
Liveable Neighbourhood
The Liveable Neighbourhood process was launched in 2021.
After these consultations, a report was published in May 2022 with a project longlist which identified a ‘Dennistoun Streets for People’ project, described as follows:
Includes active travel route running East / West across Dennistoun running from the junction of Onslow Drive / Cumbernauld Road / Alexandra Park Street along Onslow Drive, incorporating links to schools / swimming pool and on to potential location of Eastern Gate to Necropolis. Noted this needs detailed discussion with the local community and alternative routes along Ark Lane / Firpark Street circumnavigating the Necropolis.
Learning Quarter District Regeneration Framework
GCC delivered a presentation on the District Regeneration Framework (DRF) plan for the ‘Learning Quarter’ at a DCC meeting in February 2023, confirming the proposal for a Necropolis Eastern Entrance .
More information about the District Regeneration Frameworks here:
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/1835/District-Regeneration-Frameworks
It was stated by GCC that no cycle route was proposed, despite drawings in the published DRF report indicating it.
Above overview is from page 25 here:
Various matters and concerns were raised by those present at the meeting.
The notes on this presentation and initial response are included in the February 2023 minutes here:
In the absence of key details about this proposal, there was uncertainty as to how DCC should respond more formally. After some discussion the following written response was submitted to GCC:
A number of proposals are highlighted in the consultation. These seem to amount to the suggestion that there could be an Eastern Entrance to the Necropolis which will offer a route for pedestrians and wheelchair users into the Necropolis in addition to the route that already exists at the Drygate. We have had conflicting information as to whether cycles would be permitted to access and this is something which needs urgent clarification.
There are a number of suggested benefits including access to green space and a historical monument for those living in Dennistoun. There is also a suggestion that the Necropolis could form part of an active travel route. Some have identified the potential benefits for increased engagement with and respect for this site and all of its cultural and historical significance.
However, there have also been significant concerns from members of the community. These concerns are focused around the potential resultant increase in anti-social behaviour, vandalism, excess traffic and poor parking provision. There are also significant concerns with regards to the need to maintain respect for the site which continues to be an active cemetery.
DCC understands that a fuller consultation will take place with stakeholders in due course, and we will of course be happy to participate fully in this process, with the expectation that any future engagement noting the potential for an eastern entrance to the Necropolis includes a detailed options appraisal of that proposal in comparison to potential similar or linked projects. Namely: greenspace and active travel upgrades along the existing Firpark and/or Ark Lane routes. It is key that an options appraisal considers the context created by two confirmed and upcoming nearby projects. Specifically: the Liveable Neighbourhood ‘Streets for People’, with engagement due to commence in April; and the ‘Duke Street and John Knox Street Avenues Plus’ project, due to begin engagement in mid-June.
Above response recorded in Appendix C of the March 2023 minutes here:
Neighbourhood Infrastructure Improvement Fund
GCC launched the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Improvement Fund (NIIF) in 2022 with the following announcement:
Options for a £23m package of investment in roads, lighting, footways, traffic signals and other vital infrastructure are being put before communities across Glasgow.
The Neighbourhood Infrastructure Improvement Fund will see £1m allocated for improvements in each of the city’s 23 council wards with community representatives having a direct say on how the money will be spent.
Detailed proposals that provide costings and specifications for potential work are being presented to Area Partnership committee for all wards and members of the committee will then help to determine the priorities for their area. Area Partnerships bring together elected members at local level, public and third sector organisations, community councils and other community representatives.
In September 2023, responding to a GCC request for input and suggestions from stakeholders such as community councils, DCC submitted a proposal for improvements to pedestrian infrastructure provision throughout the DCC area.
As advised by GCC, DCC then made a formal submission to the Dennistoun Area Partnership (DAP), a committee chaired and led by the three Dennistoun Ward councillors. DCC requested that each of the identified proposals be reviewed and costed by GCC, with that information then reported back to the next DAP meeting (in November 2023) for review and potential NIIF funding approval.
As it turned out, a small number of these DCC proposals were already included within other schemes already approved and therefore not requiring NIIF funding (e.g. new pedestrian crossings recently or soon to be constructed on Bellgrove Street, Duke Street and John Knox Street).
The DAP selected one DCC proposal for further investigation at the February 2024 DAP meeting and “requested estimated costings to improve pathways at Ark Lane to make this more accessible to all users”.
February 2024 DAP meeting documents here:
https://onlineservices.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/viewDoc.asp?c=P62AFQDN812U0GZLDN
But there have been many operational issues with the administration of the NIIF, mainly due to delays in GCC establishing a clear methodology for project proposal and selection, as well as delays in allocating sufficient resources for the assessment and progression of project proposals.
As such, there was apparently no progression of the Ark Lane accessibility proposal until a whole year later, when the February 2025 DAP meeting actually committed to some funding and “approved £10,000 for a feasibility study to be carried out for any changes to be made to the footpath on Arc [sic] Lane”.
February 2025 DAP meeting documents here:
https://onlineservices.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/viewDoc.asp?c=P62AFQDNNTDNZ3DNUT
April 2025 Dennistoun Area Partnership Meeting
Confirmation of a GCC proposal for a new eastern entrance at the necropolis to provide access to a new active travel link, per the Learning Quarter District Regeneration Framework recommendation.
Further to pedestrian improvements previously requested, DCC added the following requests:
- Land to the west of Firpark street, alongside the Necropolis: Better landscaping, creating a safer, more pleasant and open useable area, rather than the secluded and overgrown trail. Per the Liveable Neighbourhood report, identifying a lack of high-quality public and green spaces, under-utilised open spaces and an inadequate number of play areas.
- Todd Street/Hogarth Park: Improvements and upgrades to the many dilapidated and under-maintained elements of the park and surrounding area, as well as numerous upgrades suggested within the Liveable Neighbourhood reports for this area.
- At each push-button crossing throughout the Dennistoun CC area: Shorter wait times and longer walk times at push button pedestrian crossings.
- At junction of Onslow Drive and Craigpark: Tightening of very large radius corner splays. (Identified in the Liveable Neighbourhood report, page 90, 123, 129 + 142).
- At side road crossings at main roads (Duke Street and Alexandra Parade), as is already in place at some side road junctions along Alexandra Parade: Tactile paving/raised tables.
April 2025 DAP meeting documents here:
https://onlineservices.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/Agenda.asp?meetingid=20339
September 2025 Dennistoun Area Partnership Meeting
Dennistoun Area Partnership agreed to the GCC proposals for £210,000 of funding for a new eastern entrance at the Necropolis, subject to further investigations.
Dennistoun Area Partnership refused approval for NIIF funding to progress any of the DCC proposals for improvements to pedestrian provision or green space improvement (with the exception of the £10,000 for the above noted feasibility study for accessibility along Ark Lane).
Despite Ark Lane accessibility costings being requested by DAP in February 2024 and a commitment in February 2025 to funding for a feasibility study, there have been no notable updates on progress on the Ark Lane proposal as of 1st November 2025.
September 2025 DAP meeting documents here:
https://onlineservices.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/Agenda.asp?meetingid=20340
October 2025 Dennistoun Community Council Meeting
GCC attended the DCC meeting to present on the subject of the Eastern Entrance to the Necropolis.
Friends of Glasgow Necropolis (FoGN) attended, voicing concerns about vandalism, theft, and antisocial behaviour (based on already existing problems), and expressed doubt about the likelihood of the entrance being closed during out-of-hours times as proposed (noting that the gates on the western side are not reliably closed in accordance with the stated opening hours). FoGN also expressed concerns about the suitability of the topography and steep gradients of the site for the purposes claimed (i.e. a genuinely accessible active travel route), as well as disturbance to wildlife (bats, insects and birds) resident within the Necropolis.
The full response of the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis to the proposals can be found here, which includes an open letter detailing the specifics of the various concerns raised:
https://www.glasgownecropolis.org/proposed-new-eastern-entrance-into-the-glasgow-necropolis/
Questions about accessibility, safety, and cycling were also asked. GCC confirmed that cycling access through the necropolis is not part of the plan, and also that there’d be no upgraded surface or lighting provision along the route. No details were provided by GCC as to how prevention of cycle access would be achieved whilst still maintaining full pedestrian accessibility (e.g. wheelchairs). It was additionally noted by an attendee that cycles (e.g. tricycles) are an accessibility aid for some. GCC were unable to explain how the proposed access and route would provide proper accessibility as an active travel route whilst not permitting and/or physically blocking all cycles.
Comments were made in support of the proposal to provide new access to a greenspace. FoGN noted in response that the Necropolis is a working cemetery and therefore a place of respect and peaceful remembrance rather than a general use park space.
DCC noted that, in terms of access to green space, there’s a much-underutilised area between Firpark St and the Necropolis wall. As noted above, this is a location where DCC have sought improvements from GCC. GCC confirmed that the proposed eastern entrance project would not be doing anything notable to upgrade the area on the eastern side of the wall.
DCC questioned the prioritisation of an eastern access on grounds of connectivity when it has not been compared to potential routes around the Necropolis: i.e. a step-free Ark Lane route to connect up with the Duke Street Avenue; and along Firpark Street to connect up with a future City Network route along Alexandra Parade.
Questions were asked about the proposed location. Again, GCC were unable to confirm details on this aspect of the proposal.
A 60+% positive support via consultation was cited by GCC. DCC acknowledged this but questioned the usefulness of that statistic in isolation considering the lack of detail in the proposal, the significant issues not yet resolved, and the lack of comparison with other comparable and viable alternatives in the context of the near vicinity (i.e. connecting routes around the necropolis and upgrades to existing open green spaces outwith the Necropolis).
