Roads and litter are big issues in the South Side
HANNAH, 36: “It is a good area for families with young children, it is safe, quiet and clean.
“Housing is limited in terms of getting a nice garden, it is mostly all tenement buildings.
“It is limited for grocery shopping, I would like to see more small business, a local butchers, fishmongers and fruit and veg shops.
“The schools and nurseries are brilliant.
“Yes I will be voting.”
IN the South Side of the city the Newlands/Auldburn council ward takes in some of the city’s most affluent neighbourhoods.
Newlands is home to streets with some of the highest house prices in Glasgow and Hillpark and Muirend is home to high owner occupation of detached, semi-detached and terraced homes.
Owner occupation in the ward outnumbers the social and private rented sectors combined.
The area covers several parks from one of the biggest in the city, Pollok Country Park with the Burrell Collection and Pollok House to smaller community parks like Auldhouse Newlands and King George V parks.
It stretches out to also cover Carnwadric and Arden, bordering on East Renfrewshire council to the south.
Local residents speak of good amenities and quality facilities and frequent transport links to the city centre that attract people to live there.
Parents praise the schools and the local secondary school, Hillpark, is often among the top few in Glasgow for the number of pupils achieving several Highers and pupils going on to university.
It is also home to Newlands Junior College, the initiative of engineering entrepreneur, Jim McColl, to provide vocational training for secondary school pupils who want to pursue training and apprenticeship opportunities.
However the problems that are commonly cited city wide are those which frustrate many residents.
Bin collections and recycling has vexed residents and potholes and state of the local council maintained roads are a common complaint
Chris Deeeny, of MD Electrical Contractors, in Pollokshaws, said it causes a substantial cost to his business. He said: “Potholes in the road are terrible, they took out four tyres in my car and the work vans have sustained a fair amount of damage from the state of the roads too.
“Traffic is really bad around the area at the moment, and it seems to be a recurring thing that roadworks are being carried out at peaks times of the day.”
People taking better care of their local environment is also an issue.
He added: “General litter can be a problem I think the place needs more bins. The parks need more warnings about picking up dog mess.”
The communities are well served by the suburban train network linking to Central Station but many people would like to see improved bus links too.
At the last council election in 2012, the voters elected two Labour and one SNP councillor to represent the area.
In the complicated counting process, Labour’s Stephen Curran was elected first, followed by Josephine Docherty of the SNP with Labour’s Emma Gillan taking the third space. CLAIRE, 33, Crosshill: “The train links here are very good, easily accessible.
“Parks are lovely, plenty of places to take the kids
“Lots of plays groups for children. Pavements need resurfacing, in places they are a bumpy mess and difficult to manoeuvre with prams and for wheelchair users.
“Lacking in cafes, there are a lot of young families around here it would be nice if there were more places to eat, affordable places for them. Yes I will vote.”