GLASWEGIANS have slated the shabby state of the street outside the Scottish Baftas Awards – after images showed the red carpet with a graffiti-scarred backdrop.
Scotland’s screen stars were in a party mood last night where they glammed up for the glitzy bash in the city’s Hilton DoubleTree.
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Screen royalty including Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd, actor David Tennant, comedienne Ashley Storrie, and Two Doors Down’s Doon Mackichan were all spotted at the glamorous affair hosted by broadcaster Edith Bowman on Sunday night.
But pictures shared online revealed a “bomb site” landscape just yards away from the festivities.
Residents said it shamed the city leaders – already under pressure over the dilapidated city centre.
The image posted on X/Twitter, showed gathering crowds and event staff rolling out the red carpet on Sunday afternoon.
Many were distracted by the scenes across the road from the luxury function suite.
The picture revealed a grubby building with a three-storey outer stairwell covered in layers of grime and graffiti next to the budget supermarket Farmfoods.
There are also remnants of ongoing council works on a cycle lane, with traffic cones and bright orange construction barriers blighting the glamorous scenes.
The striking photograph was shared on social media slamming under pressure Glasgow City Council over the city centre’s neglected appearance.
The caption read: “The Scottish BAFTAS are underway.
“This image really showcases the incredible job the Susan Aitken-led SNP council have done in making Glasgow a City we can all be proud of.”
Locals chimed in about their disgust at the conditions around the prestigious event.
One said: “God’s sake. Across the road looks like a bomb site.”
Another wrote: “Is it a scene from the up & coming Grand Theft Auto?”
A third commented: “I was at an awards do last December and they red barriers were there…”
A fourth replied: “It’s sad what’s happening in Glasgow, The city is covered in graffiti, litter and looking very run down .
“Lots of empty shops and dwindling footfall for business.
It’s in desperate need of new ideas and policy.”
A fifth added: “It’s a shambles.”
Cambridge Street was included in the first phase of the local authority’s flagship city regeneration project.
It is part of the multi-million pound Avenues and Avenues Plus programme which includes 18 different but connected projects.
The council previously said work on Cambridge Street was to be completed this Summer.
But we told how the Avenues works were hit with several delays after issues with underground utilities, design changes, and a two-week break for contractors.
The first phase is now set to be complete by next May.
After the £5.7million refresh of Sauchiehall Street and its surrounding area is complete, work will then begin on several more key routes next year as the council tries to make the city centre more inviting to shoppers and investors.
The final project is set to be carried out between the end of 2027 and the end of 2028 in George Square between George Square and High Street.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Construction works will kick off in January 2025 as the major redevelopment of George Square gets underway, and lasting until 2027.
Glasgow City Council have been approached for comment.
