EXCLUSIVE: The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce found hundreds of thousands of fewer visitors were spending time in Scotland's largest city. A “damning” report has shown a huge reduction in visitors to Glasgow city centre amid an ongoing row over dirty streets. Sales have also slumped by £60m, with retail and fashion hit hard during the cost of living crisis.
Labour councillor George Redmond blamed the SNP council: "The recent report showing a huge decline in footfall in the city centre is damning evidence of the SNP's mismanagement. “As one of the largest retail cities in the UK, it's clear that Glasgow businesses seeking support have been met with silence.” The legacy of the pandemic and a rise in home working are believed to have hit Glasgow businesses hard.
But critics of Susan Aitken, the SNP council leader in Glasgow, also accuse her administration of being anti-business. A report by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce shows a year-on-year decline in footfall in 2024, with 410,000 fewer visitors in May compared to the same month last year. The report also shows a sales decrease in April of this year of 12.
3%, the equivalent of £60m, compared to last year. The year-to-year decline is 2.4%, or £237m.
According the Chamber of Commerce, Glasgow is performing behind Edinburgh and Manchester. Of the ten sectors listed, six were in decline compared to April last year. The business "feedback" section of the report mentioned ongoing concerns such as "cleansing, maintenance & hygie.
