By EDDIE HARBINSON

COUNCIL bosses will look to emulate Glasgow’s Ashton Lane in a bid to improve the city centre’s alleyways.

Bars and restaurants throughout the town will be asked to pitch in to bring 90 lanes to life.

Councillors approved plans yesterday, which could see more gigs, shows, markets and outside seating for cafes and restaurants throughout the city centre.

It comes after SNP councillor Kenny McLean admitted many lanes have been left in disrepair and suffer from anti-social behaviour, litter and parking problems.

He said: “Our lanes have been sad, pathetic and the paving within them has been left to decline. There’s substantial work required to bring them up to scratch.

“Ashton Lane isn’t part of this strategy but it’s a well-used, well maintained lane. That’s an example of how we’d like our city centre lanes to be.

“Lanes throughout the world, particularly in North America and Europe and Australia, are a key part of life in a city.

“We want people to use the lanes to relax, sit out, have a meal and drinks. We’ll also be looking at the likes of the Garnethill area, where we can make the lanes nice for the residents to use.”

A consultation into the lanes strategy found that 89% of residents felt that arts and culture should form part of the plans.

Eighty-eight per cent of respondents felt that a lane activation fund would be beneficial.

Three-quarters of people raised waste and recycling issues while 84% said that public health and community safety should be a priority.

Mr McLean added: “There has been a lot of discussions but those will continue as we identify areas of multiple ownership.

“We’ll co-ordinate the strategy, we’ll chuck in some funding where we can but we need third parties to come on board to bring this to fruition.

“If you’re in the city centre, you wouldn’t venture down some of the lanes. Our aim is to make sure the lanes are up to a standard whereby people want to go because they are a nice place to visit.”