15 Sep 2021
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is tasked by its members to fight Glasgow’s case for investment and trade, so it has been a painful fortnight absorbing some sharp opinions on the city’s cleanliness.
Before the furore erupted, Glasgow City Centre Task Force organised a collective walk round in response to concerns that the centre was struggling to look its best, just when it needs to recover from the impact of the pandemic. Senior officials from the City Council joined a team of retailers and the Chamber, touring the main commercial streets respectfully sharing views on what they saw.
Litter collection is only one of the issues. Graffiti has exploded during the crisis and the vast majority of this is tagging with no artistic merit whatsoever, while street furniture is often broken and covered in stickers. After an unusually warm summer the paving stones are dirty and in need of a power wash and there are too many that are cracked and due for repair. Not every business is presenting its waste for collection in line with the rules and back lanes are strewn with the evidence of drug misuse. Red and white temporary road management barriers and empty shop units only add to the ragged and run-down appearance of some of our central streets.
Our experience of working with the Council has been positive. In each and every case Council officials were willing to listen and to explore solutions while acknowledging that not every issue is within their control. Covid-19 has severely stretched staff resources and available funding has been steadily reducing year on year.
We know that these issues are even more common outside the city centre in Glasgow’s local neighbourhoods and with the added problems of heavily littered grass verges, untended derelict land, damaged roads and fly-tipping.
It always helps to have some objective data and Keep Scotland Beautiful provides an annual audit. Glasgow’s cleanliness score has dropped over the past three years although not as far as Edinburgh or Falkirk. Amongst the common problems, KSB reports include food and drink packaging along roadside verges, severe weed growth and higher litter levels in deprived areas. I suspect most Glaswegians will have a street in mind that needs attention.
There is no question that the City Council has a responsibility to lead the response. Fresh bins and power washing equipment have been purchased and in the years ahead we will see a substantial programme of improvement to the public realm to match the first phase in Sauchiehall Street. But more regular maintenance of street furniture, graffiti removal and pavement repairs is needed.
However, the City Council is not responsible for every action. The grass verges on the exits and entrances to the motorways have long been a problem and they are the responsibility of Transport Scotland. Untidy derelict land is often in private hands.
Nor should the Scottish Government ignore the role it has in properly funding local authorities to deliver their core services. It is too easy for successive Cabinet Secretaries of Finance to choose local government as a standard target for a real terms funding reduction.
Let’s also recognise that Glasgow’s residents and businesses can help. Frankly it’s dispiriting to witness the scene at the end of a sunny day in a Glasgow park. Why do we feel it’s ok to leave our litter behind us spread all over the grass? Nor is it acceptable for any business to choose fly-tipping to avoid commercial waste fees.
I have no doubt there will be improvements in time for COP26 but let’s not drift backwards again as soon as it is over.
This article was first published in The Herald on Wednesday 15 September 2021
