PLANS to radically cut the number of cars in Glasgow city centre have been proposed to "rejuvenate" the city centre for people.

Private cars come bottom of the list in the plan to reshape how people get about in the city centre.

The independent Connectivity Commission set up by Glasgow City Council has recommended a range of measures to improve the streets for pedestrians and cars need to make way for people.

The commission, chaired by transport expert Professor David Begg, said the city centre should be “reconstituted” and plans would see more car free streets.

Prof Begg said that decisions over decades have prioritised car use and a transformation is needed.

The recommendations include:

A repurposing of the city centre network to prioritise pedestrians and replace the “grid system” with a “smart grid” that separates different modes of transport.

It means streets where cars are allowed would be fewer and be on outer edges of larger grid areas where streets inside are restricted to other transports modes like buses and cycling.

The commission propose a transport hierarchy with walking at the top, followed by cycling, public transport, taxis and pool cars with private cars at the bottom.

The plan includes greater use of bus priority measures and car parks and bus terminals “to reduce the number of cars in the city centre.”

Professor Begg said: “Glasgow is a great European city and the economic powerhouse of Scotland. But not all of its citizens are connected to the opportunities the city provides, which is placing a barrier on its growth potential.

“And its streets, particularly in the city centre, do not offer an experience worthy of a great European city, the consequence of decades of planning decisions which have prioritised car use of pedestrians and denuded its public spaces.”

It also wants to see councils to have powers to introduce workplace and retail parking charges

Prof Begg added: “The recommendations included in this report offer an opportunity to radically transform Glasgow’s city centre – ensuring it becomes an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest – while better connecting all its citizens so as to deliver inclusive growth.

“We have built on the very positive work already being undertaken by Glasgow City Council such as the Avenues project, Low Emission Zone, cycling schemes and recently formed bus partnership. But an incremental approach to these is not enough. Now is the time for radical action.”