CAMPAIGNERS trying to make their neighbourhood safer will take to the street this weekend.

Residents’ group Let’s Save Govanhill is campaigning for a crackdown on criminals in the South Side community.

After an initial delay by the city council, the organisers were given the go ahead to march from Govanhill Park to Aitkenhead Road police station on Saturday.

The march will start in Govanhill Park as planned with some of the protesters stopping at Myrtle Park and others being allowed to continue to the police station.

An online petition which calls on Police Scotland to make the streets of Govanhill safer has been signed by around 2000 people.

Fiona Jordan, secretary of Let’s Save Govanhill, insisted the march would be controlled and regulated.

Earlier this year members of the group highlighted their campaign by marching to local MSP and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s constituency office.

In March, hundreds of residents took to the streets in a march against illegal dumping and crime.

They wanted action to clean the area of rubbish, tackle a rat infestation and combat crime, which they say has been the norm for years but is now worse than ever.

Organiser of both marches Frances Stojilkovic, 52, grew up on Calder Street.

At the time, the care assistant with Cordia said: “It’s an absolute disgrace what’s happened to Govanhill and nothing has been done about it.

“For a long time there’s been a big problem with rubbish being dumped everywhere, which has now caused an infestation of rats.

“I moved away from Govanhill and so have loads of other people.

“I still have family living there, including my mother so I’m in the area all the time. Crime is a big problem.”

It followed news that a £9.3million plan to take over some of Glasgow’s worst housing was being put in place.

Glasgow City Council put forward £5m and the Scottish Government £4.3m to take over flats in Govanhill.

The scheme has seen private sector housing taken over by Govanhill Housing Association for social rent.

And it will eventually affect four street blocks of 78 closes and 579 properties.

It was hoped the plan would tackle the slum landlords, rapid turnover in tenancies, overcrowding and lack of factoring arrangements that have contributed to bringing the area down.