Clean up street

READING about the closure of Greaves in Sauchiehall Street (Evening Times February 1), we often walk down this street and my gran used to tell me of when it was a busy shopping area.

Sadly those days have gone.

They need to start at the beginning and clean up the area. There is rubbish everywhere, move the people begging and sleeping in doorways.

Then start to move shop by shop in, give them reduced council rates for the first three years to encourage new business.

Craig Stewart, posted online

Not just council

SAUCHIEHALL Street has been in decline for years, it’s not just due to the recession.

But Buchanan Galleries and St Enoch’s expansions haven’t helped, along with all the out of town shopping centres.

Sauchiehall Street badly needs smartening up. It looks pretty grotty and dirty.

Factors and landlords could be playing their part far more when it comes to facelifts and paint jobs.

It’s not just all down to the council.

Jill Ferguson, posted online

City of Culture?

I WAS back in Glasgow last weekend and couldn’t believe the state of Argyle Street.

All the decent shops have gone and the shop fronts had mattresses in them.

It’s a sad state of affairs.

What happened to Glasgow city of culture?

The council needs to get this sorted.

Elaine Waltham, posted online

Raising our game

I AM really grateful to Housing Minister Kevin Stewart for officially opening Homes for Good’s new offices in Bridgeton this week, exactly one year before a new compulsory code of practice comes into force for letting agents in Scotland.

Our new homes will include a dedicated support and information hub for tenants in the private rented sector – the first of its kind in Scotland.

Through the new code of practice, Scotland’s letting industry is being challenged to raise its game and to ensure consistently high standards of service for tenants and landlords – something we are already fully committed to as a social enterprise founded on ethical principles.

By driving out poor practice, letting agent regulation could really transform private renting from a problem sector of the housing market to become part of a sustainable solution to Scotland’s housing needs.

Susan Aktemel, director, Homes For Good (Scotland), Bridgeton