GLASGOW'S Victorian city centre grid planners would never have anticipated the volume of traffic that contributes to its streets ranking among the UK's most polluted.

In a city where car ownership is amongst the lowest in the country, main thoroughfares nonetheless grind to a near standstill several times a day. When the twin needs of environmental improvement and a more agile traffic system combine, bus gates are amongst the obvious proposals.

The number of fines for those caught driving through George Square in the summer tailed off quite promptly and the council has a two-year lead-in if it proceeds with plans to expand the gate scheme. But targeting an overall reduction in traffic by 10 per cent could also impact upon the city's retail offering.

Glasgow bills itself as a metropolitan hub. Its lifeblood is more than just the residents within its boundaries, with "outsiders" from further afield more dependent on their own transport to visit the city.

In theory, faster, easier journeys would attract more motorists onto public transport. Whether the bus companies do enough to make their services an attractive option might be a more decisive factor.