Glasgow City Council is to crack down on illegal outdoor seating after the introduction of Scotland's smoking ban last summer led to an "explosion" in unregulated street furniture.

A new "one-stop shop" for planning permission will be introduced this spring in an attempt to curb illegal practices and encourage proprietors to buy in to the process.

"We've had a street culture and café society in Glasgow for many years, but now we need to make it easier and better so we can stop premises using street furniture illegally," a council spokesman said.

The council plans to refine the current three-stage planning application process - which the spokesman admitted was "cumbersome, to say the least".

"We anticipate the new process will be quicker, more efficient and could be cheaper, as small business won't necessarily have to go through the three stages. But the details still have to be finalised," he said.

The £1,000 application cost is expected to remain the same.

View more on the smoking ban here >>

Forthcoming smoking bans will not deter customers, says Camra >>

By Emily Manson

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