A GLASGOW MSP has said Sauchiehall Street is dying and has pointed the finger of blame at the SNP.

Adam Tomkins, Conservative MSP, blamed the city council and Scottish Government, claiming they have failed to help firms in the famous street.

The MSP spoke in Holyrood during a debate on the SNP’s programme for Government.

He said it has “stood idly by” while firms went out of business and accused both local and Scottish Government of mismanaging the City Deal.

The council refutes his claims and said it provided cash and business relief to firms affected by the recent fires.

Mr Tomkins said: “We all know that, under the SNP, Glasgow’s economy is struggling. Business start-up rates, business survival rates, the female employment rate and levels of economic activity all compare poorly when contrasted with cities in the north of England, such as Manchester.

“It is a gloomy picture, not least for the once iconic Sauchiehall Street, which is one of the most important commercial streets anywhere in Scotland, and one of Glasgow’s major retail arteries. It is no exaggeration to say it is dying on the SNP’s watch. 

“It was hit by two major fires earlier this year, and the SNP stood idly by as businesses went under and residents were locked out of their properties for weeks on end.”

Maryhill and Springburn SNP MSP disputed Mr Tomkins’ assessment.

Mr Doris said: I apologise to anyone who has to listen to Mr Tomkins, because he is ill-informed about the Glasgow city region deal.

“It is worth putting on the record that the deal was not signed by Councillor Susan Aitken but by a previous Labour Administration. 

“As the Local Government and Communities Committee found in its city region deal inquiry, the biggest problem was that the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council are trying with the city region deal to form inclusive growth projects to bring all society together, but that has been specifically rejected by the UK Government.”

The Evening Times yesterday revealed a revamp of the Savoy Centre as Sauchiehall Street looks to recover from the closures following the fires at Victoria’s nightclub and Glasgow School of Art.