Investment and care wouldgoalongway

Janet Murray, 71, retired care home worker from Drumchapel: “There is not a lot that’s good here.

“There used to be a lot of shops – every kind you could think of – but there’s not anymore.

“It’s really bad now. It’s not that I don’t like it here, I’ve lived here for 40 years.

“But there needs to be more shops and more housing in this area for it to get any better.

“I’d like to see the council spend more money here. I always vote.” IN Drumchapel and Anniesland the communities want to let the city know it has much more to offer.

But before the area can prosper, care and attention is needed on a massive scale to lift the residents and their collective spirits.

Both areas have bustling communities with many schools and transport links to serve them.

Although the scales look to tip in favour of Anniesland when it comes to transport.

Both areas have proud histories in retail as well.

Anniesland, with the help of its student population, is a haven of small cafes and shops.

However, business rates do cause a problem for those continuing and attempting to start up their business in the area.

Drumchapel, to put it bluntly, has seen better days.

This is an uncomfortable truth many people in the Drumchapel area are aware of.

But the community are far from accepting it.

Elspeth Kerr and Andy Lynch, of the Drumchapel Community Council, have a long list of issues they would like to see improved in the area.

But before the gripes, one thing is clear – there is pride in the community and there is belief the situation can be made better if the people work together with help from the council.

Andy, who has been lived in Drumchapel all his life, said: “When it comes to friendliness and camaraderie there is no better place than Drumchapel.

“It has its history of being a pretty rough place but that has fell away and now people are wanting to get on with living their lives the best way they can. “We need help to do that though. “There needs to be jobs. “There needs to be places for young people and older people to go. With help Drumchapel can keep improving.”

Elspeth who moved to Drumchapel after getting a job in the area ,wants to see change in the area’s fortunes when it comes to empty shops and housing.

She said: “Housing is a big issue in the area – you look around here and there is a lot of derelict land.

“They have all been demolished and development is very much needed.

“The people of this area need good quality social housing.

“There is also a real need to improved the area’s shopping centre.

“Basically, through being ignored, it’s falling a part and its gradually getting emptier and emptier.

“Businesses are suffering due to the lack of business the place attracts and as a result they shut up shop and go somewhere else.

“If the place was looked after it would be a lot more attractive for people in the area to go to.

“And as a result it would attract more businesses and organisations to help the community.” Connor Moran, 21, from Anniesland: “The people are great and a lot of things are happening.

“Some for the better and some not so much.

“But there is a lot to be done if I’m going to be won over in the local elections.

“I think that there’s more that needs to be done national than locally if I’m being honest.

“If local councillors could put pressure on sorting out the rail network then I would be happy. I’ll definitely be voting.”