FAIRGROUND rides for toddlers should be banned from pedestrian areas, it was claimed today.

FAIRGROUND rides for toddlers should be banned from pedestrian areas, it was claimed today.

Glasgow councillor Nina Baker, of the Green Party, has written to the city council's licensing committee to complain about the kiddies' attractions in Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street.

She has the backing of Merchant City community council which also wants the rides scrapped.

Ms Baker said: "The pedestrianised parts of Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street are often very crowded, which we may see as the reward for the city's success in promoting itself as a retail destination.

"But these areas have become a visual mess, accompanied by masses of litter, and the streets are no longer the wonderful vistas they were.

"We do not need these rides in order to attract families to the retail areas.

"For many, they will be regarded as a hazard to get past as fast as possible while fending off the pestering of their children to go on rides the parents can ill afford."

Ms Baker, who represents Anderston/City, said she was also concerned about the impact of the fairground attractions on the environment of the city centre.

She said: "Many rides run off diesel generators and contribute to city centre pollution, right in the middle of a pedestrianised area.

"I would suggest new and renewal licences for these operators in Sauchiehall Street and Argyle Street pedestrian areas should not be granted."

Anne Keay, chairman of Merchant City community council, also called for an end to the rides in Argyle Street.

She said: "Pedestrian areas are precious spaces to be enjoyed for the space they provide to shop, walk and sit in as well as the relative peace they provide from mechanisation.

"Fairground rides disturb that peace as their diesel generators make a not inconsiderable amount of noise.

"These generators also smell unpleasant and make an unwelcome contribution to air pollution."

Some shoppers agreed. Catherine Collins, 61, of Germiston, Glasgow, believes the fairgrounds put shoppers off visiting the area.

Catherine said: They're an eyesore and can cause more hassle than they're worth.

"You get undesirables using them as an excuse to hang around the area."

Shopper Sarah Johnston, 34, of Stirling, said: "As a visitor to the city, I think they lower the tone of the area. They get in the way when the streets are busy and they look terrible."

However, grandparents Isobelle and Frank Connelly, both 47 and also from Germiston, take granddaughter Brooke, four, to the rides.

Frank said: "I think the rides are quite colourful and good for the kids."

Operators wanting to run a fairground attraction have to pay a licence fee of £563.

Despite the concerns, the city council's licensing committee agreed to grant public entertainment licences to operators in the two areas.