STV NewsRapid repairs are to be carried out in Glasgow city centre after businesses voiced concerns about the “lower-quality look and feel” of streets.
The council now plans to spend money on pavements, benches, street washing and lighting, among other measures, to improve the heart of the metropolis.
According to a council paper, there would be a fast response to small neglected parts of streets with poor-quality public areas that are “undermining investment opportunities.”
If the proposal is approved, zones around train and bus stations and routes into and around office areas and shopping destinations would be prime targets.
A council paper said the work will focus on areas where developers or investors have raised problems.
Building on work already being done, a council paper said a “more innovative approach is required to enable a relatively rapid response to smaller-scale but higher-impact streetscape issues.”
The scheme – dubbed the City Centre Rapid Repairs Project- would see improvements made on top of maintenance already being carried out by the council. The job could be carried out within five days for urgent work.
According to the council report, recent consumer surveys undertaken by the local authority have revealed perceptions of a lower-quality look and feel of the city centre.
Businesses have also voiced doubts about the city centre’s “look and feel” and persistent concerns about walking routes from the “key transport hubs to the commercial and financial districts.”
Half of the money for the rapid repairs programme will come from developer contributions paid as part of planning permission.
The project would operate as a one-year pilot and have a budget of £400,000, half of which would come from the council’s City Centre Strategy capital funding and the other £200,000 taken from developer contributions.
The new idea is the latest measure from the council’s City Centre Strategy 2024 to 2030. Previous actions included making grant funds available for empty buildings and improving the look and feel of the city centre.
Details of the City Centre Rapid Repairs Project will be presented to the economy, housing, transport and regeneration city policy committee next week.
The committee is asked to consider the pilot and refer it to the City Administration Committee for final approval.
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