With just 18 days to go until polling day, many people in Glasgow are still deciding which party to choose.

 

In the West of the city, despite being only three miles apart, the views of those in the most and least wealthy areas couldn't be more contrasting.

The Evening Times visited Drumchapel and Jordanhill to ask voters what issues are the most important to them when choosing where to cast their votes.

The most deprived area of Drumchapel is the 13th most deprived zone in Scotland, and is in the bottom 1% in terms of income levels across the country.

It also has the 9th worst rate for employment in Scotland, according to the latest multiple deprivation index report

Outside Drumchapel shopping centre locals spoke to us about a range of issues including crime levels and the lack of facilities for young people growing up in the area.

John McCormack, a 30-year-old construction worker said he was most concerned about education and the cost of nursery schools.

The father-of-three will be voting for the SNP on May 7, after supporting the party through the independence referendum.

He said: "When David Cameron says he is helping, where?

"I get under £1000 a month for my wages and I work full time.

"I'm lucky if I have £100 left after everything is paid for.

"I have to bring up three kids myself and get them clothes, milk, nappies, food, electricity, gas, everything.

"My daughter will be going to school in August but my son is still in nursery, and the costs involved are just through the roof.

"Nursery should be free.

"Foodbanks and the reliance on them is a huge issue here, and the fact there are no jobs for people who do want them."

Mary Jones, 57, remembers the variety of things for young people to do in Drumchapel when she was younger.

The NHS worker said she is still undecided on who to vote for and said: "There were loads of shops, and a fountain, and children could play all day before.

"The whole place was buzzing every day. Now it's not like that."

"Bookies and off sales are just a huge problem. There are two right next to each other, they want to open more.

"I feel sorry for the weans, they have had to get brought up in an area where there isn't anything to do.

"Bus fares are expensive for mothers and fathers, they can't send them out with the area, they can't afford it.

"They should have free transport for a start and something to do in their area."

By contrast in Jordanhill, the most affluent streets fall within the top 2% in the latest Scottish Index of Multiple deprivation.

In terms of income and employment rates, the wealthiest parts of the area are among the top 5% in the country.

Many people were concerned about wider issues such as fiscal autonomy and nuclear weapons, while others were focused on health and education.

Frank Hughes, 51, said he was almost certain of who he would vote for, but was using the final weeks to fully cement his views.

The 51-year-old lawyer said: " I'll be voting for a left wing party, it may not be the SNP or it may not be Labour. I've not decided yet.

" I'm interested in a mixture of issues - social injustice is a terrible thing and that above all else is important to me.

"I'm from a very poor background and it's a scourge. I see what ti does to people's lives. Foodbanks, it's terrible. I think it's a worse world to be brought up in than when I was brought up in."

Frank said the issues affecting local residents may not have been "typical fo the city" but said

" I think education is a big one for people, health too.

"There are a fair amount of people here who would be motivated by altruistic concerns too.

"Nuclear weapons I'd imagine to some extent would be a priority."

Care assistant Pearl Coburn said she was going to vote for the SNP as it was the only way people in Scotland "were going to get a decent deal."

The 41-year-old said: "These spending cuts are going to affect people badly - the disabled, the elderly, children. They are going for the vulnerable in society to make themselves look better and it's just not on.

" Labour and the Tories can't make any more cuts. They're plunging us into a darkness.

" In Jordanhill it's quite a mixed bag. there is quite a lot of support for the SNP and it's becoming more prominent but people are concerned about a variety of issues - education is an important thing."

hannah.rodger@eveningtimes.co.uk