RESIDENTS, politicians and developers have backed a plan to revive the fortunes of a Glasgow community.

RESIDENTS, politicians and developers have backed a plan to revive the fortunes of a Glasgow community.

More than 200 people turned up to a public meeting on the future of Shawlands amid claims the area is suffering a downturn in business.

They blame the increasingly empty and rundown Shawlands Arcade.

Now people, led by Shawlands and Strathbungo Community Council, are pushing for major improvements - and they want them urgently.

They are calling for a partnership deal with the council - known as a Town Centre Action Plan - to get off the ground as quickly as possible.

The move would see the council, traders, community leaders and other agencies join together to draw up a plan for revitalising Shawlands.

It would give the community priority status for council funding to upgrade the area and could also see financial incentives - such as lower rents - for new businesses.

Langside councillor Archie Graham said: "The plan has to come up with a blueprint for a future vision of Shawlands."

Community council secretary Andrew Montgomery said: "Glasgow City Council has an almost £2billion budget a year and we would like just a little bit of that."

All the councillors from the area, as well as deputy First Minister and Govan MSP Nicola Sturgeon, attended the meeting earlier this week.

They were told how the Shawlands Arcade on Kilmarnock Road has been left with many vacant shop units after businesses, including the Job Centre, Carphone Warehouse and Sainsbury's, moved out.

AWG Property bought the centre, which includes offices and a car park, in July 2006 for more than £21million, with property firm WG Mitchell as a silent partner.

Richard Rae, of AWG Property, said: "We will be fully co-operating with Glasgow City Council on any developments to Shawlands town centre and offer our full support to the Town Centre Action Plan application."

A council spokesman said: "Shawlands sits just below the city centre in terms of importance and we want to see the area maximise its potential."