“WE have aspired”, said a spokesman for Glasgow’s housing department, “to an office where tenants can discuss their problems in comfort, and with a greater degree of confidentiality, and where waiting for an appointment need not be a dread of waiting -- and often standing -- in dull, cramped quarters”.

It was April 1985. The Glasgow council had just opened, with a hint of pride, offices at Anniesland Cross, at a cost of around £600,000.

The offices replaced an old and rather dilapidated property which had been in operation for 17 years.

The new offices had under its jurisdiction some 16,000 homes, and roughly 50,000 people. It was expected that the staff would deal with 700-800 callers every day, peaking at between 1,100 and 1,200 towards the end of the month, when the monthly rents were due to be paid.

The new premises were designed with comfort and tenants’ privacy in mind, although eyebrows had reportedly been raised about their “luxury”. Some of the carpeting cost £20-plus per square metre, but it was pointed out -- not unreasonably -- that with so many people walking across it every day, it was worth having a durable floor covering.

“The office”, said housing depute director David Comley, “is very much the way we would like to see our other offices going. We see it as a model for the future”.

Read more: Herald Diary