Shawlands is in Glasgow

I LIVE IN SHAWLANDS IN GLASGOW.

Yes I do.

Really.

And I have a problem with that.

But it is not what you think. The problem is that where-I-live keeps vanishing!

Let me explain: go to yell.com and do a search: a “Pub” in “Glasgow” called “The Granary“. Here’s the results I got when I did this…

1 results for “Pub” and “The Granary”Matches located in Glasgow or find your nearest The Granary10, Kilmarnock Rd, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G41 3NH Tel: 0141 649 0594

Did you notice that Yell have added the word “Lanarkshire” – they are saying that Glasgow is in Lanarkshire! Glasgow? Are they serious?

Glasgow is not what it once was, but it is still BIG (in fact it is presently the fourth largest city in the entire UK). And it is NOT in Lanarkshire!

A century ago Glasgow was the second city of the British Empire after London — and as The British Empire was the biggest empire in history, so Glasgow was once the second city of the planet! Glasgow is and always has been the Biggest City in Scotland. It has always been its own burgh with its own council and four cathedrals. To put things into perspective, Glasgow has Five Football teams and a national stadium at Hampden (near Shawlands and NOT in Lanarkshire). The entire residential population of the city of Inverness could be comfortably seated inside any one of these stadia! How dare they lose all the regions within Glasgow, and how dare they diminish this historically great city in such a way!

Hey, look — I got a leaflet from the tourist board, from which I quote:

“By road or Rail Lanarkshire is less than an hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh”[PDF of Lanarkshire leaflet]

It takes me an hour to drive to Lanarkshire. Glasgow is Glasgow. And “The Granary” is in “Shawlands, Glasgow” — NOT “Glasgow, Lanarkshire”!

• But Shawlands does not exist as far as Yell and The Yellow Pages are concerned.

This is unbelievable. Things might be getting worse, but how bad is it when where-you-live can get lost?

This is a Major Disadvantage

Imagine you wanted to search on yell for a Pizza in Glasgow — is that unreasonable?

The results cover a staggering area of over 100 square miles! On the first page are restaurants in the City Centre, the West End, Cumbernauld, and even East Kilbride! Yell is Useless!

The Problem is Getting Worse

The trouble is that Yell do not seem to be the only people who use this (probably American) software — you might have noticed that some of the Google map links also add “Lanarkshire” — we also have all sorts of problems getting deliveries for things bought on-line. Often the web forms automatically add “Lanarkshire” and subtract “Shawlands”!

Shawlands is a well-known and Important Part of Glasgow

OK, just in case you are thinking that Shawlands is a tiny or insignificant place. Well that is very wrong indeed:

There are main roads in and out of Glasgow, and one of the longest and most central is the A77. From Cowcaddens at the North of the City Centre, the A77 is Renfield Street, then Jamaica Street, bridging the Clyde as Bridge Street, and continuing southward as Pollokshaws Road, through Eglinton Toll/ St Andrew’s Cross, to Shawlands Cross where it becomes Kilmarnock Road. On crossing the boundary from Glasgow to East Renfrewshire at Giffnock, it becomes Fenwick Road then Ayr Road then Fenwick Road again at Malletsheugh and over the moor as it travels into East Ayrshire and onwards.

Naturally, towns and villages have sprung up along the A77. It was the main route for Glaswegians driving to the beaches at Ayr, Girvan, Saltcoats and Troon as well as England.

Most of these are suburban conurbations of Glasgow — but they were mainly residential/ dormitory areas, and so Shawlands holds incredible importance as being the first city-like area — with restaurants, pubs, clubs and flats. Shawlands has two rail routes, and is close to the two main motorways, the National Football stadium, the Victoria Infirmary, and Langside College.

Further south have traditionally been designated “Dry Areas” where pubs and alcohol have been forbidden, so people have traditionally come from miles around to shop, work and have a night-out in Shawlands. It can also be considered as a stepping stone to the city centre (which is only 3 miles away).

Shawlands connects with the largest public park in Scotland, and has many parks and green spaces of its own. As a result, Shawlands is one of the best known areas of Glasgow. Especially known for it’s restaurants and nightclubs. It is also one of the most desirable areas to live for the broadest cross section of people and families, which is reflected in the house prices and rental market.

Summary

Shawlands is a bustling area of Glasgow, and Glasgow is the biggest and most populace place in the entire country. Lanarkshire is full of sheep and grass and is miles away by motorway. Lanarkshire is a “day out”. Glasgow is NOT in Lanarkshire. Is that clear?