Glasgow West End community plants trees 'to combat air pollution near new drive-thrus'

People from Thornwood have taken the action after development started on two drive-thrus last July.

The restaurants will be located on the stretch of green space between the Clydeside Expressway and Glasgow Harbour, close to the Thornwood Roundabout.

The plans include a Starbucks and a Burger King.

Shaun Conroy, 55

As the Glasgow Times reported at the time, locals were outraged when the works started, claiming that noise and air pollution levels will rise and the road will become more accident-prone.

Because the site is further than 20 meters away from neighbouring buildings, no consultation was needed prior to the works.

Since construction started, campaigners have been fighting back against the plans, but unsuccessfully.

Now, a year after the mechanical diggers showed up, they have started to plant trees and flowers in the area, hoping they will absorb some of the expected pollution.

READ MORE: Work starts on new Burger King and Starbucks drive thru in Glasgow

Shaun Conroy, 55, lives locally and has been involved in the campaign from the beginning.

He said: “I am really concerned about the air quality.

"We are on the junction of Dumbarton Road, South Street which are main thoroughfares. The Clydeside Expressway cuts right through this section of Patrick.

“We also have the roundabout that feeds the other side of the motorway, heading west.

"We have the motorway that heads to Anniesland, the roundabout, which heads up there as well, so the noise and air pollution here is not good for the community and our children.

“The reason that we got started was that they knocked down more than 40 trees when they started, over a year ago.

“I formed a group called Love Thornwood to raise concerns about the development locally and the high pollution in the area.

“We are trying to mitigate the high levels of pollution and traffic by giving the community something to focus on.

“We are planting trees to manage the pollution."

Flower planters in Thornwood

Community members hope they reduce pollution

READ MORE: NOAH submits plans for Mount Florida Bowling Club site

Love Thornwood's Facebook community now has 336 members, who are hoping to draw attention to the issue.

Mr Conroy added: “I think it’s too far down the line to stop it. I don’t know what tactics we could use to prevent them from opening, we are powerless.

“The fact that we have been absolutely excluded from any from of input with regards to it is disgraceful.

“We have been making noise about it but I don’t know how successful we will be.

“We’ve got a thriving cafe culture in Partick, lots of good wee cafes doing well, and you want them to do well.

“I think this will have an impact on local businesses.

“We are absolutely still not being heard. I have contacted Starbucks and have regularly been in touch with their Twitter page as well.

“Anytime there has been an accident, we have been letting the companies know about them.

“They don’t respond to your concerns."

Dr Cecilia Tortajada, professor in practice on environmental innovation, school of interdisciplinary studies, University of Glasgow, said: "It has been long proven that vegetation (trees, shrubs) helps to reduce noise and air pollution.

"It helps to reduce air pollution by creating a barrier and to reduce noise pollution by attenuating it.

“Vegetation helps to reduce temperatures and shade surfaces. Different trees have different levels of efficiency to reduce noise and air pollution as some trees can filter more pollutants than others.

"The more vegetation that is removed, and the more pavements that are built in urban areas, the higher the temperatures and the higher the air-pollution levels will be.

"This phenomenon is known as the urban heat island effect, which can have serious health impacts. Cities in the world are trying to counteract this phenomenon by having as many green areas as possible.”

Starbucks, Burger King and Glasgow City Council have been contacted for comment.