GLASGOW'S roads chief has revealed new plans to pedestrianise part of the street network around George Square.

Roads boss vows to ban traffic at congestion hotspots

GLASGOW'S roads chief has revealed new plans to pedestrianise part of the street network around George Square. Robert Booth wants to close off the roadway in front of the City Chambers to traffic as the first part of a major push to relieve the chronic congestion in the city centre.

He also wants to pedestrianise Queen Street on the opposite side of the square from the railway station to its junction with Ingram Street.

The move - which is a direct response to the Evening Times' Get Glasgow Moving campaign - would mean traffic could only travel on the streets to the north and south of the square.

Mr Booth, the council's director of land services, also said there were proposals to close off the junction of Gordon Street and Union Street near Central Station.

That would mean all vehicles in Gordon Street - including taxis using the rank at Central Station - would have to enter and leave by Hope Street.

Mr Booth, who toured some of the traffic hotspots with the Evening Times, praised our Get Glasgow Moving campaign and the reaction it has provoked, which he said had given the council unprecedented access to "common sense" public opinion.

It's the first time the council's leading transport official has spoken publicly since our campaign started.

And Mr Booth said he was determined the traffic chaos we have highlighted in the city centre would be made a thing of the past, thanks to a series of changes to the roads network.

He added: "The campaign has been very powerful. It has highlighted areas of concern to your readers and we now have to work on delivering a programme which addresses those concerns.

"Some will be delivered very quickly, such as improved pedestrian crossing points.

"Others, like getting Traffic Regulation Orders, can take up to nine months.

"The problems won't be transformed overnight and it would be foolish to say they will be.

"But there is a determination within the council to get this sorted, and funds have been made available."

Mr Booth disputed claims buses were not causing a problem in the city centre.

He felt there were far too many buses flooding into the main streets during peak times and solving that was one of the main tasks facing his department.

He said: "It is recognised that more than 40% of Glasgow residents don't have access to a car, so public transport in the city is far higher than the average.

"But there are too many buses in particular areas of the city. In Union Street and Argyle Street there are 350 buses coming through that junction an hour.

"That's too many. We have to re-distribute the buses - maybe not reduce their numbers - but certainly get them off the same streets.

"By doing that we can provide an enhanced service and reduce the congestion."

Mr Booth said he was also concerned about the fact 42 separate bus companies operate routes within the city boundary.

He added: "In partnership with SPT we have introduced traffic regulation conditions and that allows us for the first time to regulate the buses in and around the city centre.

"We monitor the frequency of service, where they stop, where they pick up passengers and where incidents like double parking take place.

"When we find that somewhere like Union Street is being used as an unofficial bus station we report that to the Traffic Commissioner and she has the power to take action against their licences.

"We want companies to provide modern buses with low floors and which are efficient in terms of fuel emissions.

"They should also be displaying passenger information on the buses and at bus stops, updating passengers on when the next bus is due.

"It is a quality partnership First has already signed up to and hopefully others will and we can have it in place by the turn of the year.

"It will also mean that some of our peripheral estates get services they are not getting at the moment.

"And it will free the city from some of the so-called cowboy operators and their sub-standard vehicles - why should we put up with gas guzzlers belching out black smoke?"

Mr Booth promised the proposals for George Square and Gordon Street were only the first of many plans council officials had for unblocking Glasgow's crowded streets.

Further measures will be revealed over the coming months.

TIMES VOXPOP ON THE GEORGE SQUARE PLANS
DAVID McINROY, Recovery unit manager, 51 Hamilton I don't think the plan is a good idea. It will be difficult to get a solution for the congestion it will cause. City centre traffic is bad enough.	MARGARET McGARRY, Bearsden Parking in the city centre is just laziness. People can't be bothered to go and park anywhere else. I think this plan will give people such as workers and tourists a chance to enjoy the city centre. I am all for it.	ROBERT FERNS, Retired, 66, Glasgow It won't make any difference to me, this is my first time parking here in over 10 years. I never park in the city centre, so I do not feel I will be affected.	SAM COWAN, Contracts manager, 35, Croftfoot I do not think it is a good idea. It is right in the middle of Glasgow, so the area is highly congested. Less routes will do nothing but cause problems for people.