NEARLY 60% of Glasgow residents live within a stone's throw of an eyesore.

NEARLY 60% of Glasgow residents live within a stone's throw of an eyesore.

Now a new report warns the amount of derelict land is a blight on the city which impacts on how people view their community.

And it admits: "At current rates of progress it will take decades to rid the city's stock of derelict land. Its impact is baleful."

Over the last 10 years, the level of vacant land in the city fell by more than 20% as work was done to prepare sites for new homes, offices and other developments.

But despite that, a recent survey identified there were still 920 empty rundown sites in the city with the main concentrations in the north and east.

Steve Inch, city council executive director of development and regeneration, said: "Glasgow accounts for a substantial proportion of derelict land in Scotland."

The city has 3133 acres of land lying empty which represents 12.4% of the Scottish total.

That means almost 60% of Glasgow residents live within 500 metres of an eyesore site.

Ironically, the problems facing the city are caused in part by the massive regeneration schemes being carried out.

Demolition of sub-standard housing has left large areas of vacant ground as has work on the M74 and the school closure programme.

The credit crunch will not help the situation as it will almost certainly result in a slump in the number of new developments.

Mr Inch said: "The current credit squeeze is beginning to impact on development activity rates with a significant slowing and suspension of development activity in a number of areas.

"But large-scale projects such as the Commonwealth Games, the East End regeneration route and the M74 completion can help lessen the impact."

The view echoes that of Richard Cairns, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce. Earlier this week he told the Evening Times how Glasgow was "fit and well-equipped" to deal with the economic crisis.

"We should be confident we can cope - and that we will cope," he said.

Mr Cairns said the city's Scotland with Style marketing brand, its diverse and modern economy, range of multi-million pound infrastructure projects and the 2014 Games put it in an "enviably strong" position.

But hopes of a bright future might seem small comfort to people living on the doorstep of some of the city's worst derelict sites.

A quarter of all the problem land is to be found in 23 places with the largest at Cardowan Bing and Robroyston business park north of the M8.

Other problem areas include east of Kenmuir Road in Shettleston, Provan gasworks in Springburn, Cowlairs Park north of Keppochill Road, Ruchill Hospital in Bilsland Drive and the Glasgow Zoo site.

Other large areas are in Greater Pollok, Maryhill/Kelvin, Govan, Southside Central, Partick West and Calton.

Recently the Scottish Government awarded the city council £13.5million to improve 370 acres of vacant and derelict land between now and 2011.

It will be spent on the 2014 Games Athletes' Village, Glasgow canal regeneration and local regeneration plans.

The schemes will include preparing land for 100 houses at Canal, Nitshill and Carmyle and for 100 social rented houses at sites across the city.

A site will be delivered for a recycling business park at Kenmuir Road, Carmyle and 1600 jobs will be created as a result of new business premises at London, Road, Saracen Street, Nitshill, Maryhill and Spiers Locks.

Frank Doherty, council spokesman for development and regeneration said: "Glasgow has made tremendous efforts in transforming derelict sites in into productive use over the past decade, but we recognise the many challenges that remain.

"The situation demands creative thought, but we have shown we can make inroads in reducing the number of these sites."