The Splash Glasgow

EXCLUSIVE by Gary Fanning OUTGOING Glasgow council leader Susan Aitken has admitted she was “naive” over the city’s controversial Low Emission Zone — and should have reacted faster when it became engulfed in a “culture war”. The SNP politician, who will stand down as council leader today, Thursday September 10, conceded she had assumed people would continue to back the scheme because of its health benefits.

By Gary Fanning A HOMELESS shelter has been linked to 274 crimes since opening — with council chiefs branding the level of offending “extremely high”. Glasgow City Council planners have recommended refusing Homeless Project Scotland permission to continue running its 24-hour base at 71 Glassford Street. A bombshell report to councillors says Police Scotland has confirmed the crimes were “directly attributed to the shelter” since January 2024.

EXCLUSIVE by Gary Fanning COLOURFUL murals painted over to create a “post-apocalyptic Batman” set beneath Glasgow’s Kingston Bridge will be restored — alongside brand-new artwork on additional pillars. Warner Bros will fund the reinstatement of all 23 artworks covered during filming, with every artist involved in the original Yardworks project invited to return.

The Splash Glasgow | August 2026 Police have raised concerns over crime and antisocial behaviour across the city centre, residents have questioned the response to drug use around Trongate, and officers say problems tackled at one location appear to be moving elsewhere.

GMB Scotland organiser Chris Mitchell says Glasgow must stop comparing itself with other cities and demands urgent action to tackle violence, drugs and neglect. By Chris Mitchell, GMB Convenor Let’s stop pretending Glasgow city centre does not have a problem. We have all seen the videos: gang fights, brutal attacks, open drug dealing and terrified shop workers suffering racial abuse. The BBC has now filmed it. Businesses are talking about it. Social media is full of it. Everybody has had their say.

Good morning, Glasgow — and welcome to today’s Sunday Splash. From the city’s £110million budget black hole and hundreds of new 20mph streets to Batman beneath the Kingston Bridge, community opportunities and the latest from Crimebeat, here is your essential weekly briefing on what is happening across Glasgow. 🚛 New road-safety measures have been agreed for Hamilton Road after Broomhouse residents raised concerns about thousands of HGVs causing homes to shake, noise and dust.

By Gary Fanning A large riverside area has been cleared because the council says trees and vegetation were declining and potentially unsafe—but no replacement trees have yet been promised. The clearance is taking place at Carlton Place Gardens, beside the South Portland Street Suspension Bridge on the south bank of the River Clyde. Several people expressed concern after seeing the extent of the work, and were worried that the land was being cleared for housing.

By Stella Rooney, Glasgow chair of Living Rent tenants’ and community union Living Rent Glasgow, a tenants’ and community union, have been campaigning over the last year for Glasgow’s bus services to be brought back into public control through franchising, starting with a pilot night bus service. We are currently collecting people’s opinions on the topic through a survey: https://www.livingrent.org/glasgowbussurvey This Monday (7 September) some bus tickets in Glasgow will become more affordable.

EXCLUSIVE by Gary Fanning A CONTRACTOR responsible for smashing historic Glasgow cast-iron panels despite orders to preserve them has been removed from the project, The Splash can reveal. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Glasgow City Council confirmed the firm responsible for demolishing the former St Vincent Place public toilets failed to carry out the work in accordance with the original instructions.

A GLASGOW councillor has demanded an urgent investigation after historic cast-iron panels were smashed “to pieces” despite instructions that they should be saved. The ornate ironwork surrounding the former public toilets at St Vincent Place was damaged by contractors carrying out work to remove the above-ground structure and “declutter” the area. Work was halted on Tuesday morning after SNP councillor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow City Council’s convener for built heritage, discovered what had happened.