The man from the council, Angus Millar, was out and about in Glasgow this week talking about the improvements being made to the city centre. “The latest of our city centre avenues is nearing completion,” he said, “and you can really see the difference it’s made. New pavements and fantastic new greenery which are bringing some life to this part of the city centre.” He said a transformation was taking place. And there is. Although I have one or two questions.

And it’s not just me. When the video of Mr Millar, city convener for transport and climate, out and about on Cowcaddens Road was posted on social media, some people posted their comments and many of them weren’t, how can I put it, supportive. People asked how much the whole thing had cost, whether it would be properly maintained, whether the graffiti would be dealt with, and whether more trees would be planted, among other questions, although there were also one or two who offered some praise for the council. “Looks good,” said one.

And I agree, it does, certainly better than it did before, which was a sea of Clockwork-Orange concrete, unloved and uncared for. The junction of Cowcaddens Road and Port Dundas Road was particularly bad and I should know, I sat in my old office staring at it for 20 years. The improvements, as part of the wider Avenues Project, have added planting, new paving, and bike lanes and I’ve spoken to Mr Millar about what he’s trying to achieve with the whole thing and he’s sincere and ambitious and I get it. George Square is also part of the project and it looks good, or will do.

The plans for the Chinatown part of Cowcaddens, and the fire........

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