leyton.org

A week after attending the Go Ape Public meeting, Frances and I were at another public meeting, this time on the future of our local ‘town centre’ of Shawlands, in the heart of Glasgow’s south-side. It was organised by the excellent G41 local news organisation, and very well attended - I’d estimate between 200 and 300 people.

The problem facing Shawlands is not particularly unique. It’s somewhat tired and run down, and hoping to find a way to improve itself. The hope is that there’ll be a ‘Town Centre Action Plan’, which will enable it to develop, with some council or government funding assistance. One thing that feels unique to Shawlands is “The Arcade”, a badly designed shopping centre that is half-populated with retail outlets, the rest of the units remaining empty. It’s a depressing place that doesn’t inspire confidence. It’s been like that for years, and unfortunately it counts for a large swath of the main shop fronts on Kilmarnock Road.

The grand hope, until recently, was that the companies that had purchased the arcade (for something like £23m) was going to redevelop it. Unfortunately, it was announced at the meeting in a discrete sort of way, that the primary developer had been overtaken and/or was moving out of property. This leaves the future of the arcade facing fresh uncertainty.

The large number of people there all seemed behind the idea of ‘doing something’, but I found it frustrating that many of the public who took the opportunity to speak seemed focused on many of the usual things facing a council: Rubbish collection; Crime; Parking; Night Clubs, rather than the larger scheme of things I’d expected the meeting to try and address. All certainly serious issues that I agree need action. The argument was “start at the bottom and work up” and tackle the things which do the area down, but it seemed - to me at least - the wrong forum to do it in. People appeared to feel it was an (the?) opportunity to express their grievances, perhaps in many cases because previous channels - councillors and community councils - hadn’t been working, or that people weren’t appropriately aware of their function and purpose.

What also struck me, almost to the point of actually trying to ask a question, was the attitude was one of “Somebody else should come and do something”. What my grandfather sharply called the “They attitude”: They being “someone other than me/us”. The community, and the council representatives (elected and officials) acknowledged that the plan would be difficult to progress without the arcade owner, but there was still the feeling that They would have to do something. That They were obliged to develop it.

The thing that was missing - to me at least - was that the public (and I suppose I have to include myself here) didn’t seem to be feeling it appropriate to ask themselves what needed to be done to make existing or future owners want to do something about the arcade. To find the business case of leaving the centre as it is a bad one. To make the business case positively compelling for investing and redeveloping it. That means that the rest of Shawlands is such successful centre for retail and business. To some extent, it is a chicken and egg situation (it feels run down, so who’d want to open a shop?), but if we’re going to start anywhere, it’s in making people in the area choose Shawlands for their shopping, rather than another cookie-cut and busy shopping centre with the same-old shops.

Our local MSP, Nicola Sturgeon, and all of the local councillors for Langside and my own Pollokshields ward were present. Sturgeon once again demonstrated why she is a senior, and very accomplished, political figure. She was by far the best performer, actually committing to take certain actions (ie. track down the owners and learn their intensions), summarising points well, and leaving me feeling that she - of all the elected representatives - would actually do something as a result of the meeting.

The Langside councillors did a good job, but I felt badly let down by my own councillors. Perhaps because (I think) they’re all newly elected, and perhaps new to such meetings (much like I am), but not one of them inspired me in any way. Political shots that seemed unwelcome, irrelevant points and a frustrating inability to say or commit to much left me feeling altogether uninspired.

The political shots that were largely unwelcome to the audience did none the less resonate with me: It is actually a rather relevant point. Glasgow has had a Labour run council for decades, and keeps sending them back for another term, so our complaining about the lack of change in Shawlands is a tad bizarre: If we’re as fed up as we seem, surely voting for a different party is something to actually consider? Cynically though, after the comment from the floor of “I didn’t know we even had three councillors”, I’m not sure I’ll be holding my breath.

In business it’s frustrating attending a meeting that have no direct action items: Things that will be done to move the matter under discussion forward. A manager just waffling for an hour; a meeting where there isn’t enough information to make decisions; or a meeting where everybody agrees there’s a problem, but not what to do about it. This meeting seemed to agree at the outset that there should be an action plan, but I’m still at a bit of a loss as to what the next steps will be, and/or who will be involved. I’m largely with shawlander, who argues that we don’t really need more ineffectualy bureaucracy or groups, so hope somebody will take a solid and active role in driving it forward over the next few months. Personally, I’m hoping it’ll be Nicola Sturgeon.

At the risk of sounding presumptuous, here are my views for some positive actions and directions:

• Local people support the businesses in, or setting up in Shawlands. Publicity and encouragement is needed, but ultimately individual action, and a communities resolve to support the area’s businesses wherever possible. Southside happenings lists a few local tea and coffee shops for example.
• Local people need to take it upon themselves to make a fuss and complain about the problems that concern them: A cleaner, tidier, more civil area would help considerably improve Shawlands, but the council and councillors can and do already help in this regard. If not, shout louder and get others involved.
• Business rates and rents are improved so as to encourage small independent traders to open, existing ones to grow..
• Businesses build on other businesses. Boutique shops, groups of traders in a similar vein, interesting shops, to create something worth travelling to. The shops on, and near, Skirving Street are starting to set an example: A barbers shop, lovely delicatessen, and a coffee shop, with some clothes shops, all set a nice atmosphere.
• The idea of a business association is good, but it shouldn’t be restricted to purely retail (the impression I was left with). There are, I expect, plenty of other self-employed people, and small businesses in the area, my own included. Whilst they may not be directly interested in improving the high-street shopping experience, we are interested in facilities, services, decent office space, and supporting our local communities in other ways.
• The internet is an opportunity, not a threat, as somebody seemed to suggest it was last night. Certainly for shops with a “unique selling point” of some sort. It’s not actually all that difficult to operate on the internet as well as on the high-street. To plug myself (it is my website, after all), it’s something I actually help with for a living.
• It’s right and proper that people have grievances, but the correct forums already exist for many that were aired. If they’re ineffectual, it’s important people bear that in mind when voting. If they’re not listening, shout louder and find other people. The onus should also be on the elected representatives there. Get out there and meet people. Put aside the party politics and perhaps reach out to the community in a ‘big way’ more often.

Links

• G41.org.uk was one of the organisers of the meeting. Their website and newspaper is excellent, and should be on every south-siders bookmarks and newsfeed.
• Jo, from G41 has transcribe many of the points from the meeting, which may be of interest.
• Glasgow council staff present referred to a document that specified Shawlands as one of Glasgows 5 (6?) ‘Tier-2 town centres’. I’m hunting about for it, but so far haven’t located an online copy. I’ll update this when I get my mitts on it.
• A Southside Happenings refers to a previous post about the state of the shops in Shawlands. In short: Use ‘em or loose ‘em.
• The Evening times meeting write-up