The Scottish Labour Party has decided to prevent Councillor John Flanagan from standing for re-election in 2012. This is an affront to local Democracy and your help is required to support John's Appeal against this decision. Councillor John Flanagan always puts his constituents first even when that meant standing up to his own party. John a former member of Govan Community Council was first elected in 1999 to represent the Govan ward including Craigton. He has campaigned vigorously for the ward and prevented Govan becoming the dumping ground of the City. Proposals to build a Clinical Waste treatment dump Helen Street, were overturned by a mass campaign, (including a City Centre demonstration) organised by John. Further Proposals by Clydeport and W H Malcolm to relocate a massive waste reprocessing plant in Linthouse met the same determined resistance from Councillor John Flanagan. If approved the area would have been subjected to dust clouds and numerous HGV vehicles clogging up local streets day and night. Demonstrations were held outside the City Chambers, at Clydeport's Headquarters and 3000 objections were collected at Govan Cross and various locations. On 18 February 2003 our Councillor attended the Planning Committee and made representations on behalf of the Community for a site visit and hearing. On 13 March 2003 Clydeport withdrew its application. Councillor John Flanagan led a similar protest against a planning application to build a Concrete Processing Plant in Craigton, the Application was refused by Glasgow City Council. He campaigned successfully against the installation of mobile phone masts in residential areas including on the roof of the old Victory Christian Centre, Elderpark at Langlands Road and various other locations throughout the ward. Anti-social behaviour and crime has also been targetted by Councillor John Flanagan, who has worked with the Police to introduce initiatives in crime hot spots and for more youth and community resources. John has supported the work of Govan Youth Information Project and encouraged them to start their Summer School Holiday Programme which caters for in excess of 200 local children each year. When the Pearce Institute closed Councillor Flanagan led a 250 strong public demonstration in the street to have the building reopened for the Community. Today as Chair of the Pearce Institute John has overseen £2 million of investment in the refurbishment of the building, new roof, windows, solar roof panels, new Billiard Room and Lithgow Theatre, improvements to MacLeod Hall, Mary Barbour Conference Suite with further developments planned.Councillor John Flanagan has championed the need to regenerate the Govan ward through new housing and local facilities in order to rebuild the local population. He campaigned against the industralisation of the area including Teucharhill and supported a Petition to the Scottish Parliament resulting in John selecting consultants to carry out the Central Govan Action Plan leading to Govan's transformation with 500+ new housing units at Rathlin Street/Wardrop Street, Elder Street, Broomloan Road/Govan Road, Golspie Street, Govan Road(St Anthony's school site) St Saviours school site and the former St Gerards school site which will commence soon. Similarly John's work to have Govan granted Conservation status has used heritage as a lever of revival and has led to the £1.6m transformation of Govan's public realm at the Govan Cross Square, restoration of the Aitken Fountain, new seating and paving at Govan Cross Shopping Centre and SPT Bus Station Forecourt. A pontoon costing £600,000 has been installed at Water Row, relinking Govan by Ferry with Partick. Further plans will see £1.1m of public works to enhance Water Row to the ferry, and shopfront improvements. Modern £128 million facilities such as St Constantine's, Govan Campus and Pirie Park school and an adjoining Glasgow Club sport centre have also enhanced the ward along with the Orkney Street Enterprise Centre in the former police station. All part of John's vision to see real capital investment into the Govan ward. As a founding member of Govan Law Centre Trust John has supported many campaigns and initiatives against poverty and injustice which have blighted our communities. When Govan Old Parish Church faced closure John was first to campaign for its retention as a place of worship and historical importance. Likewise he campaigned to save St Anthony's when it was under threat and to secure heritage funding for vital repairs. John established the Friends of Elderpark and has been impressed by the determination of its members. He is a member of the Ure Elder Trust which was set up by Mrs Elder to provide grant support to widows from Govan. John works closely with the Craigton Residents Action Group and GHA Mosspark with their plans to create a community garden at the Barlogan/Barfillan lane. He supports the work of numerous Community Groups within the ward including Galgael, local Community Councils, Fablevision, Govan Portal, Govan, Elderpark and Linthouse Housing Associations, local Community Halls, Central Govan Tenants & Residents Association, Govan C Tenants & Residents Association, Govan Care Project, and so many others. As a member of the Council's Area Committee, former SIPS and Community Planning Boards John has supported in excess of 500 community grant applications and helped to fund initially 10 extra Community Police Officers on our streets. Councillor John Flanagan is currently working with the Bellahouston Boxing Club to find them a new home so that they can continue in their work with young people. John Flanagan has dedicated his time and effort to standing up for Govan and his constituents. He is always available and has regular surgeries where constituents can contact him with problems on various matters. He also makes home visits on request. Councillor John Flanagan's key objective has been to improve the lives of his constituents by bringing better opportunity and resources to the communities he represents whether that be Govan, Riverside, Linthouse, Drumoyne, Ibrox, Kinning Park, Riverview, West Drumoyne-Elder Grove, Craigton, Bellahouston, Cessnock, Plantation or Dumbreck. Please add your name to this petition to help our friend and colleague John so that he can continue to help us as our elected Councillor. Thank You