Election 2022: Southside Central and the battle in the south east wards of Glasgow

While people across Glasgow have been concerned about litter and bins since the pandemic started in 2020, in Govanhill it has been an issue of serious concern for a number of years.

The ward is dissected by the M74 motorway and also takes in Gorbals, Queens Park and Crosshill.

READ MORE: Election Glasgow 2022. Call for council to clean up the streets of north Glasgow

It has a younger population than many others in the city and is certainly more diverse.

In Govanhill there is anger and frustration side by side with a sprit of renewal and community endeavor.

Racism and suspicion are also evident in the area.

On the streets just off Victoria Road people are hanging around and others are busy going about their business. Some are willing to talk, not all are willing to be identified.

Arif Iqbal was going about his business, but willing to point out some of the problems.

READ MORE:Council elections Glasgow 2022 battle in the east for city seats

He said: “Look at the bins on the street. They are all overflowing. The backs courts are worse there are rats and mice everywhere.

“The bins are overflowing because there is overcrowding. Those two bins are for eight flats in that close but there are many more people living there than there should be.

“There is a lot of vandalism as well.”

Others who didn’t want names quoted, spoke of drug use and of concern about sexual exploitation issues.

On the main street, just 100 yards away, there is a lot of new activity.

New independent coffee shops, artisan bakers and craft shops mix with the old favourites that have been there for years.

READ MORE: Election Glasgow 2022: who will win in the west

This street has a different feel to it than any other high street in the city.

There is sense of waiting to find the unexpected, a surprise never far away.

Some Great Reward is a record shop, selling vinyl of pretty much every genre you can think off.

It is a big surprise.

It is not just a record shop. It is a cafe and in the window space there is a radio station.

Never before has so much been fitted into one space.

Faye Woodcock and Olly McFadden run the record shop.

Faye said: “We’ve been here since 2018. Since the lockdown people are not going into the town centre as much as before and that is benefitting local shops like this.

“There is a lot of good work going on. The cycle lanes are really good. There could be more recycling bins.”

Suz O’Neill runs the Radio Buena Vida station with David Fleming.

They are getting ready to move into new premises directly across the road.

Suz said: “It’s been amazing here. Most of the people who DJ live within a mile of the street and we cater for all styles of music. We wanted to do something in our own neighbourhood.”

Southside Central will elect four councillors.

The SNP and Labour are standing two while the Conservatives, LibDems and Greens have one candidate each. Alba and the Scottish Socialist party are also standing. Jamie Dyer is standing as an independent candidate.

In 2017 Labour and the SNP both had two elected. The candidates from both parties were far ahead of the Greens who missed out on gaining the fourth seat.

Langside is the seat of the SNP council leader Susan Aitken.

Last time it was one of the highest in the city for votes and Aitken got a whopping vote in the first preferences with more than 2800.

Archie Graham, Labour stalwart, who is not seeking re-election, also got more than 2000 votes.

Anna Richardson, who became carbon reduction convenor, took a second seat for the SNP while Tanya Wisely was elected for the Greens denying the Tories a seat.

The SNP and Labour are standing two candidates, the Conservatives, LibDems, Greens, Alba and Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition are also standing one. 

Linn is the ward of Labour group leader Malcolm Cunning.

He was the only Labour candidate in the ward after the SNP took two and the Conservatives one.

Glenn Elder and Margaret Morgan were elected for the SNP.

Elder later left the SNP group, and is now replaced by Paul McCabe as candidate.

Morgan, Cunning and the Conservative councillor, Euan Blockley, are all standing again.

Catherine Vallis is the other Labour candidate.

The LibDems, Greens and Alba are also standing with James Toner standing as an independent.

In Newlands/Auldburn there are two Labour and two SNP candidates standing.

The Conservatives, LibDems, Greens, Alba and Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition are also standing, as is Craig Ross an independent candidate.

Three candidates will be elected.

Last time it was one each for the SNP, Labour and the Conservatives.

Any drop in the Conservative vote will be seen as an opportunity for either Labour or the SNP to gain another seat.