Copyright dailyrecord
Businesses in Glasgow city centre are paying to have pavements cleaned by private contractors due to fears the council is failing to keep the area looking "presentable". Senior figures in the Scottish hospitality industry have identified the streets adjoining Central station as being of particular concern and warned their current condition was off-putting to visitors. One industry veteran, who described themselves as a "proud Glaswegian", said they were "shocked" at the decline of the area after they returned to take over a prominent city centre business. They described the SNP-led council as "under-resourced" and felt it necessary to pay for private street cleaners as a result. Others have described finding it difficult to recruit staff to work evening shifts in bars and restaurants due to a perception of the city centre being unsafe. Anti-social behaviour and open drug taking on Gordon Street, Hope Street and Union Street are regularly reported to police by business owners. There are also fears that Edinburgh's hospitality offering is outstripping Glasgow's and the city is losing money as a result. The industry sources spoke out at a time 650 businesses are voting on whether to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) covering the city centre. The backers of the proposal claim it would deliver an estimated £14.5 million of investment over five years to fund projects identified by businesses themselves. Priorities identified include making the city centre safer cleaner through targeted cleaning and graffiti removal, safer by investing in street teams, and strengthening partnerships to reduce crime and supporting vulnerable people. Kyron Keogh, chair of the BID steering group, previously described Glasgow city centre as being "full of potential" but added: "However we are aware of the challenges faced. “The BID gives us the chance to take action directly, pooling our resources to make our streets cleaner, safer and more vibrant. “This is about moving beyond frustration to delivery. By working together, and additionally to what the public sector already provides, we can invest in the kind of city centre we will want to see." A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "While Glasgow city centre was impacted more than most by the pandemic and the move to online shopping and working from home, it has recovered strongly in the past year, with sales and footfall figures significantly better than competitors such as Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester. "The council is working with partners in key sectors to accelerate the city centre's recovery, to make it more attractive for everyone who lives, works, visits and invests in it. "The area's many attractions not only bring many visitors to it, but a growing residential population, underlining its appeal. Any trip around the city centre now will show the scale of private and public investment currently taking place, investment that will bring more jobs and an improved environment for everyone." To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here
