A group of businesses plans to put night-time stewards and clean-up teams on the streets of Glasgow city centre.
The team behind the Glasgow city centre Business Improvement District proposal said it has four aims for the project, if it gets approved.
It pledges to deliver a cleaner, safer, vibrant and empowered city centre.
READ NEXT:Glasgow city centre still top shopping destination despite troubles
Under the safer, more secure city centre ambition, it said it will: “Introduce Let’s Go Glasgow Stewards and additional street pastors to offer support, particularly during the night time economy.”
It adds: "A visible and co-ordinated presence helps foster the feeling of a safe environment.”
Under a cleaner, more welcoming city centre, it plans to: “Introduce Let’s Go Glasgow Clean Team to target graffiti and chewing gum removal. It will also jetwash public and high footfall areas.”
READ NEXT:Councillors reject homeless shelter appeal but with one condition
Kyron Keogh, chair of the BID and owner of Rox jewellery shops, said the cash raised would be invested in improvements.
He said: “We all care deeply about the future of Glasgow.
"We all know Glasgow city centre has huge potential, it’s the beating heart of the city but experience hasn’t always reflected that potential.
"Let’s Go Glasgow BID is our collective response.
“It’s not about replacing what the council and police do. It’s about adding value.
"Every penny raised will go over and above public services, extra cleaning, extra safety, extra vibrancy.”
The BID proposal would see hundreds of city centre businesses contribute to a levy raising £14m over five years for projects to deliver the aims of the project.
Voting papers are being sent out this week to 650 businesses in the BID area with a rateable value of £100,000 or more.
To be successful, it needs a majority of those voting to be in favour and a turnout of at least 25%. The majority and turnout need to be in terms of both numbers and rateable value.
If approved, businesses will pay a levy of 1.5% of their rateable value each year for the five years of the BID project.
It aims to raise almost £3m a year, spending £785,000 on safety and the same on clean-up projects.
The proposal has the backing of Glasgow City Council and the city’s Chamber of Commerce.
Ricky Bell, deputy leader of the council and City Treasurer, said: “The council supports this really exciting event” and said the city centre was starting to see signs of recovery with positive retail figures for August.
He added that a BID was: “Businesses joining together with a single aim, having a say in what’s going on.”
Bell said: “It can identify new opportunities and what else we can bring to the city centre.”
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “The city centre is the heart of not just the city but our regional economy.
“The BID model is well proven. It gives businesses a much clearer voice.
“You want to see action on how the city centre looks.”
He added: “It will add extra weight to what’s delivered already.
“It has been a tough time for Glasgow city centre since the covid years. There are good signs. We can see growth returning.”
Businesses have a deadline of November 27 to cast their vote.
