Stretching from Drumchapel to Broomhill, down to Whiteinch and Yoker, the Glasgow Anniesland constituency sits in the west of the city.
It encompasses communities, including Anniesland, Broomhill, Blairdardie, Drumchapel, Jordanhill, Knightswood, Scotstoun, Scotstounhill, Temple, Netherton, Whiteinch, and Yoker.
Ahead of the Scottish Parliament election on May 7, our reporter has been speaking with local residents and organisations to hear about the issues that are important to them.
More funding for local government, education, and the cost of living were among the issues that people want to see their incoming MSP take action on.
Michael McNamara, vice chair of High Knightswood & Anniesland Community Council, says he would like to see more money allocated to councils to support services, including education and roads.
He commented: “People just want their bins emptied, streets cleaned, and potholes filled. I think the biggest issues are environmental, particularly with the bin calendars still not having been updated to include grey bins and missed collections.
“Education and support for children with additional support needs is another big issue. We need more work from the MSP and other elected officials to make those changes.
“It needs to be changed from the top down, not the bottom up.”
Irene Arrighi stays on Great Western Road and told our reporter she would like to see potholes “properly fixed” and not just “patched up”.
She said: “The worst thing is the potholes. As I live on Great Western Road, all night long, I can hear big lorries going into these holes.
“The noise during the night is even worse than during the day. If they could please get it fixed properly instead of just patching them up and then having the holes reopen again after a few weeks.”
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Antonia McGregor, a member of the Netherton 50+ group, added: “You’re supposed to look ahead when you’re driving, but the size of these potholes means you’re also having to look down to avoid them.
“There is a massive one outside of Knightswood Shopping Centre.”
Linda Ritchie, another member of the group which meets at Netherton Community Centre, commented: “The potholes have already cost me two tyres and cost one of my friends her car.”
Donna Ross is a community development coordinator at mental health charity Healing For The Heart.
The group runs sessions from the Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre, providing counselling and ‘inner healing’.
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Donna highlighted that she would like additional funding for mental health services to help people access them without 'waiting for months'.
She stated: “We need improved local access to mental health support. Community spaces like Heart of Scotstoun are lacking in funding for mental health.
“Third sector and charity groups are really struggling. People can wait up to 12 months for support.”
Fred Munroe, a former member of Whiteinch Community Council, explained that he would like his new MSP to provide clear and regular communication with communities.
He said: “There is so much work that needs to be done, but it’s not going to be fixed overnight. See if they completed one thing; that would be good.
“Communication is so important. Politicians need to be providing residents and communities with regular updates on issues.”
Andy Lynch, who has lived in Drumchapel for more than 50 years, says residents are struggling with the cost of living.
He wants to see "immediate action" taken on the issue by his new MSP.
Andy said: “The cost of living is astronomically high at the moment. That’s an immediate issue that we need assistance with.
“People are being absolutely decimated just trying to survive. We’ve got the food pantry, which seems to be pretty successful.
“People pay £3.50 and get a choice of ten items. That is helping tremendously, but it shows where we are as a society.
“People are having to reach out to charities because they can’t afford to go to supermarkets.”
Five candidates are standing for election in the Glasgow Anniesland constituency.
Who are the candidates?
- Sandesh Gulhane – Conservative and Unionist Party
- Eunis Jassemi – Labour Party
- Colm Merrick – Scottish National Party
- Sean O’Hagan – Reform UK
- James Douglas Speirs – Liberal Democrats
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