Glasgow councillor plea to reopen side streets after years of dereliction

Glasgow's bike share scheme launched in 2014.
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


A plea to reopen side streets in communities which are “coming back to life after decades of dereliction” has been issued by a Glasgow councillor.

Councillor Allan Gow is urging council officials to take on board the views of residents living in the north west of the city who want to see side streets, near Saracen Street, reopened to the community after being closed off since the 1980s.

As part of the council’s extensive programme to promote active travel plans, residents have been encouraged to take part in a consultation about a new active travel route between Saracen Street and Balmore Road.

READ MORE: 177-year-old Glasgow Maryhill pub to be demolished for housing despite 'strong local interest'

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Glasgow councillor's 'disappointment' over lack of west end bin hubs

The route would then connect with the existing cycle lanes on Garscube Road and form part of the Inner North City Network.

Councillor Gow believes this is a chance to change the way communities move around the city.

Speaking at a recent committee meeting he said: “Saracen Street is one of the north’s main routes in and out of the city centre. It has become like that because there are all sorts of side streets closed off from the 1980s due to a number of issues like anti-social behaviour.

“It is already evident to me that there is a keenness to have some of those historically closed off streets reopened again to allow communities to reclaim some of those streets back.

“If you open some of these streets up then it may well relieve some of the traffic on Saracen Street which is very narrow, which has large double decker busses and lorries [passing through].

ADVERTISEMENT

“Any proposal to move and extend pavements or produce active travel lanes is likely to cause issues in terms of design let alone use.

“Have the officers seen situations like this elsewhere in the city and can they give any assurance that these wider contextual matters, some of which are long-standing, can actually feature into the council’s response to the consultation.

“My plea is we don’t just go for the criteria. We need to take the opportunity to open up these communities which are coming back to life after decades of dereliction.

“It is a really good opportunity to change the way in which people move around that part of the city.”

A council officer confirmed that they were aware of how these side streets and spaces operate.

He said: “There is a longer and bigger picture in terms of the strategic objectives on what the projects are about. We are committed to our net zero obligations and providing our communities with different alternatives.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We need to look at how we make Saracen Street more attractive and balance these concerns. The consultation is live and we hope the community comes in and tells us what they think and take it to a further consultation.”

Sign up to our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features direct to your inbox