Southside central residents to have a say

The Southside Central Area Partnership has launched a neighbourhood management survey for 2015, in a bid for “ongoing consultation” with those who live in areas such as Langside and Queen’s Park.

Issues addressed include street cleaning, dog fouling, graffiti, youth services and areas with high volumes of private landlords — particularly in areas like Govanhill — and the results will be fed back to the wider community planning body.

Councillor Soryia Siddique, chair of the Southside Central group, told The Extra: “The area partnership includes community councils, the voluntary sector, police — so they’ll all be part of this ongoing communication with residents.

“Neighbourhood management is a significant part of what we do, and this is just continuing a conversation with constituents about issues important to them.”

The survey — running until February 12 — is open to residents of areas like the Gorbals, Crosshill and Govanhill, as well as portions of Shawlands and Strathbungo.

Hard copies have been given out and a variety of languages are available.

The questionnaire is also available online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/J6X8TZS.

The survey comes as Glasgow City Council announces a £9.3 million plan to tackle slum housing in Govanhill.

The GCC and Scottish Government joint scheme — Transforming South West Govanhill — will see private sector housing taken over by Govanhill Housing Association for social rent, and will affect 579 properties in the area.

The plan now goes before a council executive committee for approval, and it is hoped that the investment will hit slum landlords and reduce high tenancy turnovers and overcrowding.