By Catherine Hunter

Copyright glasgowlive

Glasgow’s back lanes could be transformed into a popular destination for locals and tourists featuring outdoor bars and cafes if the GMB’s latest campaign is a success.

Reclaim the Lanes, was officially launched on Friday, and calls for stricter enforcement to ensure shops, restaurants, take-aways and other businesses keep rubbish from recurring and have it lifted quickly.

Campaigners gathered on Sauchiehall Lane to show the amount of rubbish dumped in these back streets from a microwave to shopping crates and cardboard boxes left beside the industrial waste bins.

The GMB says that the campaign launch has been very successful with a number of people taking interest in the initiative.

They hope that if the lanes are cleaned up it will open up other opportunities for businesses to create more destinations with a vibe similar to that of Ashton Lane.

Chris Mitchell, GMB convenor, said: “Our campaign was very successful on Friday and over the weekend. We have spoken to a number of politicians, especially the workforce board convenor.

“We are in a more positive position about building the business and securing its long term commitment.

“Councillors have seen the good work that has been done and the positivity has been great over the last two years.

“I think commercial businesses are starting to see that Glasgow City Council and our members provide a top class service compared to private companies.

“We are looking forward to building on this beyond the city centre. I think the Reclaim the Lanes has ignited it again – what we can do and what we can achieve.”

Reclaim the Lanes aims to help commercial premises clean the lanes up and get them up to a higher standard.

Chris continued: “At the moment these lanes are just a dump and somebody at some point is going to have to take responsibility.

“Once you clean up the cobbled lanes, similar to the cobbles on Ashton Lane, you could create nice wee back streets with cafes and beer gardens because there is plenty of space there.

“You can actually see the potential for businesses. There are a lot of hotels facing onto that and I wouldn’t like to come here and stay.

“This is a massive opportunity. Our members know the city very well and if they are given the chance it will be good for the council, good for the city and it will be good for businesses.”

Councillor Allan Casey, City Convener of Workforce, says the council will continue to consult with the trade unions on an ongoing basis.

Councillor Casey said: “We have been looking closely at how we can develop our Commercial Waste service and we are considering options on how to take this forward.

“Information has been shared with the trade unions and we will consult with them on an on-going basis.

“Additional waste enforcement officers have been recruited by the council as part of our £7m investment in frontline environmental services.

“The new staff will have a focus on enforcing the commercial waste system in the city centre which will help to maintain the condition of the city centre’s back lanes.

“These lanes are privately owned and so the responsibility for maintenance is ultimately the responsibility of the private owners

“However, we are ready to work with owners on how to enhance these spaces and there are funds available for properly constituted groups for improvements to private lanes.”

Join Glasgow Live’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages