"The Place is a Bloody Mess": Glasgow's 'Cleansing Crisis'

Fly-tipping has become an increasing problem in Glasgow. Photo by Lucette Wood.

Just off Glasgow’s historic High Street lies a wasteland area used as a fly-tipping dump site, a drug den and a red-light district. The land is only a few metres from residential flats and a children's nursery.

A local campaign, ‘Park 4 Collegelands’, is calling on the council to transform the area between Havannah Street and Hunter Street into a park for the local community.

Gary McLelland, a local resident who started an online petition for the prospective park, said: “It’s a nice little area, but this particular piece of land has laid derelict for at least ten years. During the lockdown, things got out of hand with the amount of rubbish and commercial waste being dumped because the gates were open, and people could just drive in.”

The Collegelands area was a development project started in 2012 created with the vision of building student housing. Only a few blocks of student accommodation have since been constructed, leaving chunks of land undeveloped for over ten years.

The council owned area is leased out to a private developer yet lays untouched. Bulky items such as fridges and mattresses are often found abandoned in the area. In July, Glasgow City Council introduced a £35 fee to uplift bulky items.

McLelland said: “People who haven’t got a car and can’t afford the fee, obviously they are gonna fly-tip stuff. For a city that is going through a waste crisis to do that, I am flabbergasted.”

Glasgow is currently experiencing a ‘cleansing crisis’ according to the GMB Union. The group is in conflict with the council over the issue after starting a campaign with a giant inflatable rat called ‘Cludgie’, who tours the city raising awareness of the issue.

Park 4 Collegelands is calling on the council to tidy up wastelands. Photo by Lucette Wood

Glasgow City Council leader, Susan Aitken, recently caused controversy when asked about the issue.

Aitken said: “I don't think the streets are filthy. I think Glasgow needs a spruce up as we emerge from Covid.”

The waste issues come as Glasgow prepares to host COP26, the UN’s climate conference in November.

McLelland said: “Everyone is going on about COP26. I love the city and it’s amazing that we get to host world leaders, but it is a bit embarrassing. The place is a bloody mess.”

It is also thought that a park would help curb some of the illegal behaviour in the area.

“If this area was more open with more people around, I think it would decrease the amount of anti-social behaviour because people would be picking up on it.

“I don't think anyone at the council is doing this out of nastiness. I think you need to start with by acknowledging that there is a problem, which they don’t seem keen on doing. People are being put at risk because this land is not being managed properly. I don't think what we are asking for is outrageous.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “This site is subject to a long-term lease with the property holder primarily responsible for the site’s maintenance and decisions that relate to its development.

“The local residents who petitioned the council were heard at a committee and a number of actions will arise from the discussion involving councillors. We will continue to engage with the property holder to ensure the site is properly managed and to help address the range of concerns raised by local residents.

“We will also engage with the property managers of the residential premises in this area to ensure appropriate waste management arrangements are in place.

“Fly-tipping is an environmental crime. People and businesses have a basic responsibility to dispose of their waste in an appropriate manner at all times.”