George Square call is backed
THE people of Glasgow today unanimously backed calls to pedestrianise George Square.
We took to the streets to seek your opinion and feedback supporting recent calls to go for a car-free area.
The noise level and pollution level would make it a nicer place
GLASGOW residents have backed expert calls for the pedestrianisation of the city centre, including making George Street car-free.
Yesterday, the Evening Times reported that the council-appointed Connectivity Commission had recommended that the town centre be radically changed with a “smart grid” system.
It would take private cars off of many of Glasgow’s streets, and prioritise greener transport such as bicycles and buses.
The proposals will need the support and finance of the City Council to have any effect.
But one Glasgow resident yesterday suggested that Scotland should be “leading the way” on greener cities, and pedestrianising Glasgow would be a good place to start.
Nia Walker, 30, said: “I just got drenched by a bus that went past, so no cars or buses in the centre would be lovely.
“I’m all for more green spaces in the city. We’re not even leading the way in Britain and I feel like Scotland in particular is somewhere that should be leading the way.
“We do it with all sort of other things but just not with health.”
Anne Douglas, 49, said that George Square would be improved with pedestrianisation.
“I don’t drive in Glasgow at all because it’s horrible to drive into,” she said.
“But I think it would make George Square nicer to be in. The noise level and pollution level would make it a nicer place and encourage more people in to use it.”
Others suggested that pedestrianisation might improve the city centre’s pollution levels.
Maureen Ozer, 45, said: “I would be up for it being pedestrianised, for sure. I’m asthmatic and my sevenyear-old has asthma-related issues so pollution is a big concern. I would agree with fewer cars, especially if you’re bringing children into the city centre.
“I’ve got four children, and it would be much easier with the little ones.”
Chloe Heenan, 34, works in “wellness” and worries that her own lifestyle is affected by the city smog.
“There’s buses coming up and down and there’s nowhere to get away from pollution. Our work is all about wellness and you step out of the office and you’re breathing in pollution.
“Every other city has more of a central area which is more of a big thing for them. We’ve not really got that. There’s not really much here in the summer.”
Michael Connolly, 28, lives close to the square.
“I walk by it a lot. There are times of days when it’s really bad and you want to avoid it entirely,” he said.
“I know that people don’t drive around George Square because they know that it’s such a problem.
“What it might mean is they can use the square a bit better, because some of the events they have are going to be limited by the fact that there are cars going around. It gives you a bigger area.”