The distance between Glasgow and Edinburgh is under 50 miles but there is a large gulf in the perceptions people have of these proud Scottish cities.

While Edinburgh conjures up images of the arts and architecture, those who have never been to Glasgow too often imagine it to be a violent place full of Rab C Nesbitt lookalikes.

I recently managed to get myself lost at 1am in an area of Glasgow you don't usually find in the guidebooks and turned to locals for help.

I am a firm believer that a major factor in determining whether visitors return is the impression they gain of a town or city through contact with local people, either in the street or in shops, restaurants and hotels.

I stopped three times to ask directions to my city centre hotel and, on each occasion, the Glaswegians I encountered could not have been more friendly or helpful.

Discussing this a few hours later in the morning with Ron Culley, chief executive of the regeneration body Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow, and a senior police officer, I noticed their raised eyebrows as I outlined where I had ended up.

Mr Culley explained I had been deep in the heart of Govan, an area with an unfortunate reputation for violence. Even with this newly acquired knowledge I wouldn't hesitate to return to the area. Like most people, I place great value on first impressions.

I had decided to visit Glasgow after Mr Culley and a delegation made the trip to Middlesbrough.

They had heard about some of our successes and wanted to learn. This impressed me because it's rare - and refreshing - to see a major city accept it might be able to learn things from a far smaller town.

Like Glasgow, the Tees Valley is an area built around a river, heavily reliant in the past on traditional industries but now determined to regenerate and I felt sure we might also be able to learn from Glasgow.

I spent an afternoon walking round Glasgow city centre. To the newcomer the centre looks OK. Aesthetically, it's not Bath or York, but there are lots of shops and street entertainers, it's clean and there are no beggars.

But speak to local people and they enthuse about the changes that have taken place. They remember what it was like just a few years ago.

This is a lesson we can learn. I don't think we shout loud enough about the wonderful attractions we have to offer, the progress that has been made in recent years.

Glasgow is determined to move away from its violent past but efforts are hampered by a culture in which men traditionally go out carrying knives. They don't go out deliberately intending to use them but problems arise late at night, particularly at taxi ranks.

Nightlife in the city centre goes on into the small hours but then enormous queues form at the ranks. It can take over an hour to get a cab and impatience and queue jumping too often result in violence. Instead of heated words or a punch, it is a knifeblade that ends the argument.

I support the move to extended licensing in the right areas as it will be vital to the economic survival of towns. If you don't offer it, people will simply take their money elsewhere.

However, the Glasgow experience teaches us that the correct infrastructure must be in place, including night buses or more taxis, to allow people to disperse swiftly and safely.

Published: 20/05/2005