A BID to open a 24-hour gym in the Shawlands Arcade has been given the go ahead by city councillors and it seems not many local residents are happy about it.

Bosses from the mall have rightly pointed out that many units have been lying empty inside the arcade for years, with at least five out of the available 31 units sitting unoccupied for 19 years - which just seems crazy.

I have lived in Shawlands for the past 14 years and I'm passionate about the south side of Glasgow, but it's clear to all of us who live here that Shawlands in particular is fast going downhill. If changes aren't made soon to this once vibrant city suburb I'm afraid the desire to live here will fast wear off.

When I first moved into a little flat on Kilmarnock Road back in 2000, Shawlands was a hive of activity with little boutique shops such as Nuala Ashe opening its doors for the first time, not to mention the wide range of restaurants, pubs and other shops on offer along the Main Street. Is it sad that I still miss Woolworths?

There was nothing I couldn't find just a few steps from my front door - so much so that I managed to purchase my entire Christmas shopping list without getting in a bus or car.

The night life was like nothing I'd ever experienced. At the time I was working for Thomson Holidays, which had relocated their Birmingham and Manchester offices up to Glasgow and had arranged permanent accommodation in Shawlands for those staff members who had agreed to move to set up the new offices, which is why I had decided to leave the East End and move there with my friends.

Every night of the week the pubs and restaurants were busy, my favourite night of course being Thursday's at Rosco's - or it might have been known as Indigo by then.

Thursday was always ladies go free and 50p for a spirit and mix, so you can imagine how busy the place was with a club full of women and a cheap round at the bar. It was pretty much any guy's ideal night out.

I actually got a job as a barmaid in the old Piaf's Bar on Kilmarnock Road which had been rebranded as The Snug - and what a pub that was let me tell you.

With a pint of Tennent's lager setting you back a whopping £1 you can only imagine how busy it was seven nights a week - but I ran a tight ship behind that bar, although to be honest I also pur-chased and wore lot of leopard print clothing during that time as I think I may have been channeling Coronation Streets Bet Lynch, and The Snug was my Rover's Return.

Looking at Shawlands today though and it's quite a sorry sight.

Shops are closing down every other day. Large building that were once home to the likes of Tusk, The Cell and The Village Pub are sitting there boarded up with no sign of life in them at all. It is very sad.

I'm not the only person who feels this way and some people are trying to make a difference.

Thanks to Michele Pagliocca, owner of The Shed nightclub and the lovely Isobel Barrett the people of Shawlands now have access to lots of wonderful live performance events every weekend right on their door -step with The Shed Live programme.

Pubs like Linen, The Granary, Jayz and Mulberry Street still offer a fantastic night out with live entertainment organised by the very talented Mr Crawford Smith and now there is talk of a planned civic square being built outside the Langside Halls.

Shawlands has the potential to be just as bustling as the West End of the city, but we need businesses to take a chance and come here, and we the locals need to support them.

If Pure Gym want to come to Shawlands and invest, bringing with them more business and people, then I can't see why it's a problem.

Change is most definitely needed to restore the South Side of Glasgow to its former glory so we shouldn't fear it, we should embrace it.

JOIN Des Clarke on Sunday, October 5 at The Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh as he hosts the first ever Capital's Make Some Noise Comedy Night.

Des will have the task of keeping the house in order as host, whilst renowned comedians Scott Gibson, Mark Nelson, Raymond Mearns and newcomer Daniel Waterson take to the stage and aim to have you rolling in the aisles.

Join them for a great night out, with more comedians still to be announced and all funds raised going to great cause.

For more information log onto www.capitalfm.com