RESIDENTS across the city have had their say after the Glasgow Times launched our Save Our Venues campaign.

From mums and toddlers to older adults, Glaswegians of all ages are set to be affected by the possible closure of many of the city’s venues.

West End locals have hit out at Glasgow Life after they announced the closure of Whiteinch Library.

Katie Gallagher and her daughters have used the library in the past but her younger daughter has missed out on a lot due to lockdown.

She said:”When my oldest was born, we used to go to bounce and rhyme in there and things like that.

“They love going to the library. Sometimes they go with the nursery.

“They’re always quite interested in things in the house.

“When she was going to the library, she was really interested in the Eiffel Tower and when she was in there she saw books and stuff with it.

“I think outwith the home setting it makes it more interesting for them.”

Katie also stated that the library has given her children the ability to meet other kids before going to nursery and worried that they may lose that.

Whiteinch falls into one of the top 20% most deprived communities in Scotland and the library offers vital access to the internet and community education classes which Katie worries people will not be able to access if the proposed move to Scotstoun takes place.

She said: “People can’t drive. This library was great. They used to teach people to use the internet for people who had been out of work for a while.

“It’s a lot of good stuff that they did. It’s a shame it’s closing.

“Stop taking education from those who can’t afford to buy it themselves.”

June and Aleck Miller believe libraries offer people in the community a place to go.

Aleck said: “It’s a place in the local community to go to whether you’re really interested in reading or want a look at the papers.”

June said: “It’s really sad, it’s been there all that time. What’s it turning into? It’s so important to keep them open.”

The couple hit out at Glasgow Life’s decision-making process.

Aleck said: “This is the way things are done nowadays. You need to go right to the top of government anywhere.

“They just do things and then: up yours mate, we’ve done it.”

“I think it’s wrong. I must admit I haven’t used the library a lot but there are plenty of people who do.

“What about the kids? They won’t be able to use it.”

Lorraine Pollock has shared the petition with her friends.

She only noticed Whiteinch was closing when she saw a sign outside saying “Save Whiteinch Library”.

She said: “I went home and signed the petition and sent it to all of my friends.

“But I just think, it’s moving a service from a poor area to a more affluent area over at Scotstoun.

“The people over here are more in need of this library and this type of facility than people in Scotstoun.

“There are a lot of people on this side of Victoria Park who come from poorer background and they be don’t have the benefit of educated parents.

“There should be no differentiation between schools.”

The sentiment was echoed by residents in the South Side after hearing that The Couper Institute and other facilities were at risk of closure.

Shawlands resident Maureen Woodburn said: “They should let the communities know what’s going on in their libraries and give the community a chance to agree or disagree and have a voice on it.

“There’s a lack of information on what’s going on.”

Maureen’s friend Sandra agreed.

She said: “That’s sad in a way because that’s something that the kids like to do.

“There’s not a great deal of activities about for the kids.

“Loads of people rely on the libraries, the ones that are staying open tend to be ones where you’ve got to be.

“Which lower income families rely on.”