East End residents asked to consider major Duke Street project

Glasgow residents have just one more week to have their say on plans to redesign Duke Street as part of a £21m project.

A four-week consultation on proposals to improve walking, wheeling and cycling links for communities on the fringe of the city centre began on June 15, and is coming to an end soon. Under the £21.3m Avenues Plus programme, the council is planning to redevelop Duke Street and John Knox Street, with options including improved lighting, new trees and planting, better active travel routes and street furniture such as seating or bins.

When the consultation was launched, council leader Susan Aitken said the project would “bring economic, environmental, health and social benefits to everyone who lives and works in the area”. The Avenues Plus project is funded by the Places for Everyone programme, an active travel infrastructure scheme backed by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans Scotland.

Work at Duke Street will focus on the area between High Street and Bellgrove Street while at John Knox Street it will take place on the section between Castle Street and Duke Street. Four other Avenues Plus projects will develop: Cowcaddens Road (from Cambridge Street to North Hanover Street); Dobbie’s Loan (from North Hanover Street to Canal Street); South Portland Street (from Carlton Place suspension bridge to Norfolk Street).

It is hoped the work will complement the wider Avenues programme, funded by the £1bn Glasgow City Region City Deal, with money provided by both the UK and Scottish governments. The overall £115m scheme has so far included the redesign of parts of Sauchiehall Street, and will transform around 17 city centre streets. The Duke Street consultation process began with an in-person event at Dennistoun Library on June 15.

Cllr Aitken said: “Like the rest of the Avenues Plus programme, this work will improve connections and opportunities for active travel between local communities and the nearby city centre, so it’s important that people take part in this consultation to give their views on the design proposals.”

Karen McGregor, Sustrans director for Scotland, said: “Opportunities for accessible walking, wheeling and cycling across Glasgow have never been greater than they are now. By facilitating safer journeys through the city centre and building common sense connections to other local routes, the Avenues Plus project plays a huge part in the active travel transformation we are already seeing across Scotland. We strongly encourage everyone living and working in the area to get involved and share their views on the project proposals.”

A consultation survey asks participants about their preferred options and gathers opinions on lighting, planting, cycle routes and street furniture.

It can be accessed at: http://www.ironsidefarrar.com/glasgowavenues/consultation.html.