GLASGOW City Council has hit out at the “unacceptable” spreading of misinformation online that is “damaging” local communities following false claims that a care home was being turned into asylum accommodation.
The warning from the local authority comes after a post on social media gathered hundreds of interactions after it claimed that the Allander Court care home in Possilpark had been refurbished “for asylum seekers and illegal immigrants”.
The post also called for people to gather at the care home for a protest on Saturday.
However, the council has stated that the claims made online are “absolutely not true”.
The local authority has reiterated that a planning application lodged for the site is for additional bedrooms, an improved entrance lobby, and extra car parking spaces.
It added that there are no plans for change of use for the building.
Additional information supplied with the planning application states that the “objective of the proposal is to increase capacity within an existing operational care home”.
It added that the plans will “simultaneously” upgrade the quality of accommodation and bring the facility into “closer alignment with contemporary care standards and care inspectorate expectations”.
In a post online, a spokesperson for Glasgow City Council urged people to rely on “reputable sources” for information.
They said: “There have been claims on social media that a planning application has been submitted to turn a care home in Possilpark into asylum accommodation – this is absolutely not true, the application is for some additional bedrooms, an improved entrance lobby, and extra car parking spaces.
“Spreading misinformation on and offline is unacceptable, and doing so can cause damage to Glasgow's communities.
“We urge the public to not spread false information and continue to rely on reputable sources for information and updates.”
The Hawthorn Housing Cooperative, which operates in the area, also confirmed that it was in touch with the owner, who stated the “intention is to use it as a care home for older people”.
