City's cafe culture cream of Europe after £1m revamp
Source: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5055242.html

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THE multi-million pound upgrading of two Glasgow streets has created a thriving new cafe culture in the Merchant City.

And today the area, which is emerging as the city's cultural quarter, was compared to the best environments Europe has to offer.

Around £1.2million has been spent on the first phase of upgrading Brunswick Street alongside the newly refurbished former Sheriff Court building.

A total of £500,000 has been spent laying more than 13,500 pieces of stone in John Street to create a modern new feel.

Merchant City councillor Gordon Matheson officially unveiled what he described as "inspirational and world-class" streets.

He said: "Brunswick Street has been transformed and looks better now than it ever has. The investment in the Merchant City has allowed a cafe culture to develop and our streets can now compare in quality and vitality to the finest streets in Europe.

"The Merchant City is a vibrant and exciting part of the city where people enjoy living, working and relaxing.

"By upgrading key streets we are ensuring tourists visit and locals enjoy."
Bars and cafes helping to create the cafe culture buzz include Favela in John Street, the Brunswick Hotel, Bar 91 in Candleriggs and Cafe Gandolfi in Albion Street.

The improvements around the Sheriff Court are part of a joint project with Scottish Enterprise Glasgow.

SEG senior director of operations Stuart Patrick said: "High quality surroundings are fundamental to successful regeneration as it is the foundation that attracts both visitors and business investment.

"The results of this are really beginning to show in this area as the Merchant City becomes firmly established as the new cultural quarter."

Italian paving stones in a range of colours which sparkle when wet have been used in both streets as it was decided they would add interest to the area even in the worst weather.

The street furniture is made of stainless steel to give a modernist feel and mature trees have also been planted.

A planning application is currently being considered for similar schemes in Hutcheson Street and Garth Street.

Publication date 27/07/06

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You've got to love the crap the Evening Times prints.
Not that I'm unhappy that they're tarting up the Merchant City, although Seth is on the money about the gap sites, but lines like this:
And today the area, which is emerging as the city's cultural quarter, was compared to the best environments Europe has to offer
..yeah, by the people involved in doing it.. *rolleyes*

But anyway, they've planted a few trees, which the area was crying out for, and put in some nice stone.

Who wants to start a pool on how long it will be till some clown from Scottish Gas/Power/Water hoys up a few slabs and puts down tarmac in their place?

Go to Gordon Street, stand outside the RBS City Branch, and marvel at Glasgow's answer to the Australian gum tree... the tar tree.

You'll know it when you see it. Hint: look down.

I wonder when some council bod will compare it to the best that Sarajevo has to offer.

Go to Gordon Street, stand outside the RBS City Branch, and marvel at Glasgow's answer to the Australian gum tree... the tar tree.

You'll know it when you see it. Hint: look down.

I wonder when some council bod will compare it to the best that Sarajevo has to offer.
A while ago there was talk of making the utility companies fix the mess, and charge them for the privilege.. I've seen zero evidence that this is actually done.
One of the problems is that the utilty companies farm out a lot of the work to contractors, many of whom endeavour to achieve the impossible; being somehow more useless/witless than their employers.

What the council needs to do is just start suing the companies in question, and take the attitude that it's the responsibility of the utility company to recoup the costs from the contractors.

was the writer of this fiction on L,S,D ? the cream of europe ? new cultural centre ? world class? it look,s like my annual trip to paris might have to be cancelled if i now have ...all this ... on my doorstep :jk: