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Scott Taylor, Chief Executive, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau - “See Glasgow”
Thursday, April 29th, 2010
Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, speaks to SPT Express about the Glasgow Subway, what the system means to the city and his view on SPT’s modernisation plans.
1) What marks out of ten would you give Scotland's transport network and why?
As a daily customer of the train and subway network, I find the service provided by the team at Queen Street Station to be second to none. The staff are incredibly friendly and highly professional and this ranges from the ticket inspectors, the ticket team on the barriers to the staff in the booths, they are to be commended. The subway system transports 14 million people a year and is a very significant asset for the city.
The transport network across Scotland is sometimes maligned in the press. However, as a customer of Caledonian McBrayne travelling recently to Arran, Luing and Ardnamurchan, I find them consistently good. My experience of the last time I was on the ferry, was that when my car broke down and would not start, the staff gave me a push start to get me going.
I think the people that work in the transport network in Scotland rival the best of any of the cities that I have been to. We just don’t shout about it.
2) What would you say are Glasgow’s big attractions for tourists and visitors?
Glasgow’s big tourist attraction is undeniably the city itself. It’s an incredibly exciting place for short break visitors to come to, not least because of the range of things to see and do; it’s like no other Scottish City with a cosmopolitan European feel - all of its own. It’s not a city of government but rather a city of culture, of major events, and the best nightlife in the UK. For a short-break, Glasgow never falls short.
3) What is your opinion of the current Subway system in Glasgow?
I find it incredibly convenient and good value for money. It is one of the most important arteries of the city and I would compare it alongside the circle line in London in terms of its economic and social importance to the city. It deserves sizeable investment in order to maintain its capacity and capability.
4) SPT has bold plans to modernise the Subway in Glasgow and aspires to upgrade all 15 stations, running new modern trains at an increased frequency. How would this benefit the city’s reputation?
SPT’s funds to modernise the Subway are essential for Glasgow in the long term. To imagine this city without a Subway system would be difficult to contemplate. It’s essential for moving people quickly and is one of the essential arteries of the city. Failure to invest, leading to its demise in the long-term, would damage Glasgow’s reputation as a modern, competitive city.
5) Where is your favourite place in Glasgow to visit?
That would be Kelvingrove Art Gallery Museum. It has within its walls Europe’s finest civic art collections. Its displays are world class and it’s no surprise that it’s the fourteenth most visited museum in the world. The Mackintosh Gallery never tires me and it is a reminder of the skills and vision of both Margaret and Charles Mackintosh.
6) What’s the best bit of feedback you’ve heard about the city from visitors?
Glasgow welcomes 2.8 million visitors a year and the often heard comments are about how friendly Glaswegians are. Visitors influence how Glasgow is perceived in the way that they talk about it and write about it, for instance Lonely Planet said: “Scotland’s biggest city has shaken off its shroud of industrial soot and shimmied into a sparkling new designer gown”.
Time magazine describes Glasgow as “Europe’s Secret Capital of Music”.
7) What do you think is the most exciting development in Glasgow right now?
I think you would expect me to answer that in terms of infrastructure, but I think the most exciting development in Glasgow right now is a sense of confidence that Glaswegians have about their city. There is a sense that Glasgow is on the up, confidence and growth are inextricably linked and as Glasgow marches towards 2014 the city continues to build it’s position on the world stage.
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