Skip to content

Graffiti targeted in £400k Glasgow clean-up scheme

Getty Images Shoppers walk past a closed shop on Glasgow's Sauchiehall Street. There is graffiti on the windows and on the walls. Getty Images
Graffiti will be among the targets of the clean-up scheme

Glasgow city centre is set for a clean up amid concern about its appearance.

The £400,000 pilot project will tackle repairs to pavements and deal with graffiti and flyposting.

Glasgow City Council says relatively small defects can have an outsized impact on the look and feel of the city.

Council leader Susan Aitken previously denied claims the city was "filthy" but accepted it needed a "spruce up".

The 12 month scheme - called the City Centre Rapid Repairs pilot - will start in January after councillors backed it on Thursday.

It will target the areas around major shopping streets, transport hubs and the most important commercial districts.

It comes on top of other work in the city centre - such as routine street cleaning, planned maintenance and the Avenues Project to redevelop some streetscapes.

The £400,000 will be spent on:

  • Repairing or replacing pavement slabs
  • Street washing
  • Removing stickers, flyposting and offensive graffiti
  • Repairs to street furniture, lighting and bollards

Councillor Angus Millar, convener for city centre recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: “We know that relatively small defects in the public realm such as issues with pavements and street furniture can have an outsized impact on the look and feel of the city centre.

"This new approach will allow us to respond more quickly to such issues where they arise to create a more attractive city centre for everyone and further support investment into Glasgow.”

Getty Images A man and woman sit on a bench in front of a former BHS store. The windows of the store have been covered with artwork, but it has been defaced by graffiti. There is litter on the pavement. Getty Images

The council says the scheme is mainly intended for smaller, compact areas that appear neglected or which show poor-quality public realm features which undermine investment opportunities.

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “This pilot is a welcome initiative that will not only enhance the aesthetics of Glasgow’s city centre but also demonstrates the city’s commitment to creating a more attractive and vibrant environment for visitors, businesses and investors.

"By proactively addressing small but impactful issues quickly, this scheme has the potential to unlock new opportunities for growth and regeneration, driving confidence in the city’s future. We encourage members to actively engage and to make proposals for improvements.”

A former retail building in darkness. There are some old M&S posters in the windows. A few shoppers are walking past. There are some small tree in the foreground.
The former M&S in Sauchiehall Street is lying empty

In recent years Glasgow City Centre has faced some major challenges - some linked to the pandemic and wider economic trends.

Some major stores closed including Debenhams on Argyle Street and Marks and Spencer on Sauchiehall Street.

Empty shop units can lead to an increase in rubbish and graffiti.

There has been particular concern over the problems facing Sauchiehall Street. A major project to improve the pedestrian area is due to be completed soon after delays.

However there have been signs of investment and development in the city's main retail areas recently - once branded the Style Mile.

Fashion retailer Next recently opened a new branch in part of Argyle Street which had been derelict since the pandemic while sports company Nike is about to reopen its Buchanan Street store after a major refurbishment.

Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo is expected to open on a site at the corner of Buchanan Street and Argyle Street which is currently being redeveloped in the coming months.

There are also plans to redevelop the derelict Marks and Spencer site on Sauchiehall Street into student accommodation.