An online consultation survey has opened seeking your views on the Spaces for People physical distancing measures delivered during COVID-19, and whether any should be retained permanently.

Spaces for People in Glasgow has seen significant temporary travel infrastructure implemented across the city to provide additional space in public places for walking, wheeling and cycling. Footways have been widened at pinch points to facilitate safer pedestrian movement and easier access to shops, schools, businesses, community facilities and public transport hubs. Pop-up cycle lanes have also been created to make active travel viable and more convenient for everyday journeys.

In line with Glasgow City Council’s Strategic Plan for Cycling the Connecting Woodside project will deliver cycle friendly junction improvements at the junction of Maryhill Road, North Woodside Road and Hopehill Road. These works will include the installation of a signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing at the junction of Maryhill Road, North Woodside Road and Hopehill Road.

The accompanying Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) will restrict cycle movements whilst on the cycle crossing over Maryhill Road and prohibit vehicles from entering the repurposed cycle carriageway on North Woodside Road. These proposals will improve road safety and pedestrian safety by prohibiting unsafe and obstructive practices within designated cycle areas.

Running for 6 weeks, this publication stage of the TRO invites the public to register their support and objections for the above. Any person wishing to register a note of object or support towards the proposed Order must submit this in writing to Group Manager, Sustainable Transport, Exchange House, 231 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RX or email: SustainableTransport@glasgow.gov.uk and it must be received by Friday, 18 June 2021.

A public consultation is set to begin on the city’s new waste strategy - Resource and Recycling Strategy 2020-30 - which seeks to minimise the impact waste has on the climate and build more resilient and efficient waste and recycling services for Glasgow.

The current Waste Strategy, Tackling Glasgow’s Waste, has come to the end of its timeframe and the Council is seeking to implement a new Resource and Recycling Strategy over the next 10 years with a vision of ‘Empowering Glasgow to become a zero waste city’.

The new strategy will be published early next year, and the Council is seeking views from a variety of stakeholders, including residents, businesses, Housing Associations, Registered Social Landlords and Community Councils, on suggestions for improving recycling services and minimising the amount of waste produced. 

The consultation will start on Wednesday 2 December 2020.  Residents are being urged to participate in the online survey to ensure their voice is heard as the resource and recycling industry moves into a significant period of policy change over the next five years.  The new legislation and policy reviews which will impact upon how the Council manages waste and recycling within the city includes but is not limited to:

• Introduction of a deposit return scheme for all single use drinks containers
• Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging Waste
• Aligning collection services to the Charter for Household Recycling
• The Scottish Government Circular Economy Bill

The strategy objectives will seek to:

• Apply relevant policies to harness the maximum resource use from materials.
• Reduce the impact that waste contributes to climate change, therefore assisting Glasgow towards achieving carbon neutral status by 2030.
• Support residents, local business and visitors within Glasgow to manage their waste in a more sustainable way.
• Ensure the Council’s resource and recycling services are effective and efficient.

The Council recognises that any new strategy document will be stronger through partnership working.  Housing Associations, Registered Social Landlords and Community Councils will receive an email directly to advise them of the details of the consultation and to encourage them to participate. 

In February 2019, the Council consulted with students, student housing providers, universities, elected members and community councils to solicit their perspectives on Student Accommodation in Glasgow. Following this event, the Council conducted research and analysis that has informed the drafting of revised guidance.  The Council has prepared this revised guidance with the intention to replace Section 2: Student Accommodation of SG10.

In order to make these revisions, The Council is required to publish the new guidance for a period of public consultation that permits all interested parties to make comments on the proposed guidance. Once the consultation ends the Council will review these representations and consider how these might alter the proposed guidance before presenting it to relevant Council Committees for their approval.

Subject to this approval, the Council will submit the revised guidance to the Scottish Government along with details of how the representations we received during the consultation have been taken into account. If the Scottish Government is satisfied that the revised guidance and consultation procedures have fulfilled statutory requirements, the Council will seek to adopt the guidance (subject to any further necessary Committee approval), thereby replacing Section 2: Student Accommodation of SG10.

In 2018, the Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a report highlighting urgent need for global action on climate change- one decade to act to avoid catastrophic changes.

In response to this stark warning, in 2019, Glasgow City Council set up a Climate Emergency Working Group, subsequently declaring Climate Emergency in the city.

The working group produced an independent expert report which made 61 recommendations, with a target for the city to achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2030 at its heart.

The Climate Emergency Implementation Plan provides a response to the recommendations set out by the Climate Emergency Working Group. This sets a course for further action, and describes the means by which a city and its people will face the extraordinary challenges of the global climate emergency.

The City council are looking to undertake this consultation to engage and galvanise local organisations, businesses, communities and citizens to inform the development of the proposed Climate Emergency Implementation Plan (CEIP) and support its delivery.

This Conversation aims to raise awareness of the Climate Emergency and the key issues facing the city. This will include opportunities for early action on health & wellbeing, economy and natural environment.  This will also include, engaging Glaswegians in relation to Glasgow and Scotland’s emission reduction aims, low carbon behaviours and actions required at all levels to achieve these aims.

In particular, this process will allow the council to gather feedback on the plan’s proposed actions, thematic approach and level of ambition.

This will be undertaken through this survey and a series of public Climate Emergency Conversations, allowing all organisations and individuals in Glasgow to participate.

Following this climate emergency conversation, Glasgow City Council would be in a position to propose that the council approve and adopt the revised plan. Having support from our local communities, partners and stakeholders will embolden the city’s commitment to creating a climate smart place that works for all.