THIS mildewed settee was dragged into Glasgow’s Burgh Hall one day in September 1977, where it played a prominent role alongside a collection of beetles in lemonade bottles, and fungus-covered wallpaper.
All were produced as evidence during a six-hour hearing of Appeal Court, in which nearly 200 Hutchesontown residents argued for a reduction in their rates on the grounds of excessive dampness in their homes.
The residents had arrived in double-decker buses and marched, with a police escort, to the small courtroom. A typical case was argued by one woman, who said that she had had to throw out carpets and furniture and that her family’s health was deteriorating.
Gorbals MP Frank McElhone, Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office, told the hearing that he had visited many of the houses in question. The homes were “deplorable” and were suffering from “the grave effects of dampness and fungus which certainly affect the well-being of the tenants.”
Mr McElhone was cross-examined by Menzies Campbell, QC for the City Assessor. During one exchange, the chairman of the court told Mr McElhone: “I wonder if you would refrain from making political speeches for the benefit of this committee”. Mr McElhone made a remark to Mr Campbell that was greeted with loud applause and cheers, and the chairman warned that the courtroom would be cleared if the applause was repeated.
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