EXCLUSIVE: Byres Road café owner slams cycle lane scheme - "They’ve screwed everything up"
Business leader criticises planners for disregarding locals and calls for council to reverse controversial road changes
EXCLUSIVE by Gary Fanning
A long-established Glasgow café owner has launched a scathing attack on recent changes to Byres Road, accusing planners of ignoring the needs of local businesses and residents.
Americo Verrecchia, pictured above left, whose family has run the University Café for four generations since it first opened in 1918, says recent redesigns of the popular West End thoroughfare have done more harm than good.
“They’ve never worked, stayed or lived here,” he said, referring to those behind the project. “They draw little pictures and think it looks pretty.
“If they’d just gone out and asked the shopkeepers and the people who work here every day, we could have told" them what’s needed.
“We know what is good for this area. They should ask the tenants who live here as they have right to say something about it.”
The changes, part of a wider initiative to promote cycling and improve pedestrian access, have included the installation of dedicated cycle lanes, widened pavements, and restricted vehicle access on certain stretches of Byres Road.
But Mr Verrecchia, who retired a few years ago and passed on the running of his businesses to his sons, argues the scheme has backfired. “This is not Amsterdam. Who do you see out there on bikes apart from delivery guys? And they’re not even using the cycle lanes properly — they’re weaving on and off the pavement. It’s become a racetrack.”
“One guy come off the cycle lane because he wanted to take over another cyclist and almost hit me on the pavement.
“The solution is put it back the area back to the the way it was.”
Mr Verrecchia son also voiced concerns about traffic congestion, claiming the re-routing of cars away from the southern end of the road has led to gridlock in surrounding streets.
“You can’t drive down the bottom of Byres Road anymore because it is one way and you have to go down Church Street. It’s chaos. At night, Dumbarton Road is jammed. Nothing’s moving.
“Why can’t the just come down this last we stretch.”
Emergency access has also become an issue because of the introduction of bollards, according to the son. “Ambulances can’t get through now. Before, cars could bump up onto the pavement to let them past. Not anymore. It’s bollards everywhere and nobody’s moving.”
Mr Verrecchia fears the changes are driving away custom and contributing to the closure of local takeaway shops. “They have screwed everything up.
“People need to be able to stop, park, and buy things.
“They takeaway shops have all closed and it is Chinese businesses taking over.”
It’s going to end up like Sauchiehall Street — dead.”
“How can you make a living. You want to make a living but can’t do it.
He was particularly scathing about the new street surface. “What is this granite stuff? They should’ve just used tarmac with some white speckle — it would’ve looked beautiful.”
Despite his frustration, Mr Verrecchia insists he’s proud of his community. “We’re friendly people here. What you see is what you get. But they need to start listening to us.”
Yesterday, The Splash reported that Asif Akhter, the manager of Print Cartridge on Byres Road, says the business has suffered a steady decline since the introduction of a new cycle lane outside the shop.
John Turner, Chairman of Byres Road and Lanes BID, expressed mixed views on the City Deal Project. While he’s not a fan of the bike lanes and feels the cycling lobby has too much influence, he concedes the area looks better overall.
Mr Turner sees the project as a trade-off, accepting the lanes in exchange for much-needed pavement improvements. He pushed back against claims that Byres Road is in decline, highlighting a recent revival in the area, with new businesses opening and increased activity following University of Glasgow developments.
A new Pelican Crossing near Dalcross Street is also set to improve access for students and boost local footfall.
The City Council has defended the redevelopment, stating it aims to “rebalance” road use in favour of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport while improving air quality and safety.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “The reality is that the public realm improvement work at Byres Road has been a great success – the vacancy rate for business units in this part of the street is at a historic low, with the most recent rate of 6.5% comparing well to the average of 14% for UK high streets and an economic environment of high inflation and utility costs, and low consumer confidence.
“While some businesses have closed in recent years, they have been replaced (for example, Tony Macaroni is now Santa Lucia) with others expanding, such as the Little Curry House expanding into the neighbouring unit.
“It must also be said that parking numbers need to be considered in terms of footfall – there are around 7,500 people walking through this part of Byres Road every day against the 63 parking spaces (before the works began) that were in place for the 85 businesses there, so the overwhelming number of people visiting there do so on foot.
“The most recent data shows that there are over 1,000 cyclists moving through this part of Byres Road every day, with 80% using the cycle paths.
“Byres Road is also well served by public transport, with Kelvinhall generating around 2,300 daily return journeys and Hillhead approximately 6,000 return journeys.”
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Why this story matters: As Glasgow’s West End evolves, some local traders fear they’re being pushed to the margins. This exclusive highlights the tension between top-down city planning and the voices of those who’ve lived and worked on Byres Road for generations.