A PLAN to create Glasgow’s first dedicated cycling village in the Finnieston area of the city has moved forward.

The area’s community council have been shortlisted for £2million funding, which could be matched by the city council, to radically transform the Yorkhill and Kelvingrove area for cyclists and pedestrians with vehicle restrictions on main routes, extra pedestrian crossings, segregated cycle lanes, street art and landscaping.

It is the first time in Scotland that a community group has approached transport charity funder Sustrans for such a proposal, rather than a council.

Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Community Council want to create a more attractive ‘gateway’ to the area for people arriving from the SEC and Hydro, as well as creating new cycle routes to link up with three, existing national routes, through Kelvingrove Park, along the Clyde side and the West City Way. The area has been transformed in recent years with an influx of high-end restaurants and bars.

Lee Grant, of Yorkhill and Finnieston Community Council, said: “One of the first things I’d like to do is thank Glasgow City Council for listening to us.

“We’ve been shortlisted and now we are at the second stage. There are three stages in total.

“We want to see major change at the junction between Argyle Street, Kelvinhaugh Street and Derby street. We want to see that junction traffic lighted with a segregated lane for cyclists and pedestrians.

“Between Argyle Street and Sauchiehall Street, we want to make that short section of road on Derby Street, northbound only for vehicles with a segregated cycle lane and trees.

“On Kelvingrove Street, we want to make that south-bound only for vehicles with a segregated cycle lane.

“What we are doing is connecting the national cycle route, the number 76 that runs through Kelvingrove Park with the number 75 that runs down by the river.

“But it’s not all about cyclists, it’s about making it better for pedestrians too, for the elderly.

“We are also bringing forward public realm improvements.

“We also want to help out the local businesses and make the streets more ‘sticky’ whereby people come and stay and spend money so that people can walk around easily.”

The community council are also looking into further parking controls in the area after two-hour restrictions were introduced in Minerva and Corunna Street and ambitious plans are being taken forward which could see a railway station re-instated in the area.

Lee said: “We are not anti-business. One of the things about the cycling village is, we want more people to come into the area in a more sustainable fashion. Our area has got very high pollution.”