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| Glasgow's famous George Square: a concert venue or a valued public park? | Glasgow's famous George Square: a concert venue or a valued public park? |
| (3 months later) | |
| Plans to redevelop George Square, one of Glasgow's busiest and most famous public spaces, seem destined to be one of the city's most controversial ever projects. Critics are already rounding on the failure to properly consult residents; the failure to have women judges; the anonymous designs and the decision to push one despite repeated complaints the scheme is too radical. | Plans to redevelop George Square, one of Glasgow's busiest and most famous public spaces, seem destined to be one of the city's most controversial ever projects. Critics are already rounding on the failure to properly consult residents; the failure to have women judges; the anonymous designs and the decision to push one despite repeated complaints the scheme is too radical. |
| Opponents of the £15m scheme, where six shortlisted designs now going on public display after directly consulting only 42 local residents, are dismayed at the proposals, which would either sweep aside or reposition the square's historic statues. | Opponents of the £15m scheme, where six shortlisted designs now going on public display after directly consulting only 42 local residents, are dismayed at the proposals, which would either sweep aside or reposition the square's historic statues. |
| It has done one thing, however: united both the Scottish National party opposition and the city's lone Tory councillor. | It has done one thing, however: united both the Scottish National party opposition and the city's lone Tory councillor. |
| In a letter to the council leader, SNP communities spokesperson David McDonald has called for a referendum on the proposals, saying that council leader Gordon Matheson had not given Glaswegians sufficient opportunity to consider and respond to the plans. Cllr McDonald said: | In a letter to the council leader, SNP communities spokesperson David McDonald has called for a referendum on the proposals, saying that council leader Gordon Matheson had not given Glaswegians sufficient opportunity to consider and respond to the plans. Cllr McDonald said: |
| The consultation has been woefully inadequate. | The consultation has been woefully inadequate. |
| Only 42 people have been asked for their opinion on what the square should look like. The six designs have been put on display for just nine days down an alley in the city centre before one is chosen by a panel of judges. | Only 42 people have been asked for their opinion on what the square should look like. The six designs have been put on display for just nine days down an alley in the city centre before one is chosen by a panel of judges. |
| This doesn't meet the high standards expected, and it certainly falls short of the commitment Mr Matheson made when he said he 'would not dream' of embarking on a plan for George Square without the full involvement of the people of Glasgow. | This doesn't meet the high standards expected, and it certainly falls short of the commitment Mr Matheson made when he said he 'would not dream' of embarking on a plan for George Square without the full involvement of the people of Glasgow. |
| Polling company Ipsos Mori paid contributors £25 for their opinions on the square's future, and its own report found that a number of respondents were opposed to a radical modern design. But the consultation found greater support for the plans among seven 'stakeholder' organisations including groups from the city's business community. | Polling company Ipsos Mori paid contributors £25 for their opinions on the square's future, and its own report found that a number of respondents were opposed to a radical modern design. But the consultation found greater support for the plans among seven 'stakeholder' organisations including groups from the city's business community. |
| The six designs, on show at the city's Lighthouse centre for architecture nearby, are displayed without the names of the six shortlisted design teams alongside them. This is intended to make the selection process less biased. | The six designs, on show at the city's Lighthouse centre for architecture nearby, are displayed without the names of the six shortlisted design teams alongside them. This is intended to make the selection process less biased. |
| Conservative councillor David Meikle backed calls for a city-wide vote on the plans, saying that the needs of businesses were being prioritised above those of ordinary Glaswegians: | Conservative councillor David Meikle backed calls for a city-wide vote on the plans, saying that the needs of businesses were being prioritised above those of ordinary Glaswegians: |
| It seems as though there's been a diktat that the winning design has to accommodate large events. | It seems as though there's been a diktat that the winning design has to accommodate large events. |
| But there are plenty of places in the city that are already suitable for that – I don't think that there are many people who are desperate to go and see a rock concert in the square. | But there are plenty of places in the city that are already suitable for that – I don't think that there are many people who are desperate to go and see a rock concert in the square. |
| This is a space that people use to relax. It's a park in the heart of the city. It shouldn't be used for commercial interests, business events or to boost politicians' egos – it should be used for the people of Glasgow. | This is a space that people use to relax. It's a park in the heart of the city. It shouldn't be used for commercial interests, business events or to boost politicians' egos – it should be used for the people of Glasgow. |
| Originally developed as a private garden, George Square became a public space in the late 19th century. It boasts statues of notable figures including Robert Burns, James Watt and Queen Victoria as well as the first public monument ever constructed to Sir Walter Scott – some or all of which would be removed or repositioned under the proposed designs, in time for the 2014 Commonwealth games being hosted for the first time by Glasgow. | Originally developed as a private garden, George Square became a public space in the late 19th century. It boasts statues of notable figures including Robert Burns, James Watt and Queen Victoria as well as the first public monument ever constructed to Sir Walter Scott – some or all of which would be removed or repositioned under the proposed designs, in time for the 2014 Commonwealth games being hosted for the first time by Glasgow. |
| The square's most recent refurbishment in 1998 saw its grassed-over areas reduced in size and a new red tarmac surface – a redesign which was poorly received by many Glaswegians. | The square's most recent refurbishment in 1998 saw its grassed-over areas reduced in size and a new red tarmac surface – a redesign which was poorly received by many Glaswegians. |
| The square has since been used for student fairs, the main Olympic torch relay party for Scotland, whisky festivals and the Glasgow Loves Christmas event. In past decades, it has also been the focal point for famous political protests: the start of dockyard strikers marches, anti-apartheid rallies and the violent clash with troops on "Black Friday" in January 1919, after strikes over working hours in the city. | The square has since been used for student fairs, the main Olympic torch relay party for Scotland, whisky festivals and the Glasgow Loves Christmas event. In past decades, it has also been the focal point for famous political protests: the start of dockyard strikers marches, anti-apartheid rallies and the violent clash with troops on "Black Friday" in January 1919, after strikes over working hours in the city. |
| Matheson argues the development would create a civic space "fit for the 21st century". Opponents argue that the scheme places a greater emphasis on business than on recreational use by ordinary Glaswegians. | Matheson argues the development would create a civic space "fit for the 21st century". Opponents argue that the scheme places a greater emphasis on business than on recreational use by ordinary Glaswegians. |
| A contributor to Restore George Square, a blog opposed to the developments, who asked to remain anonymous (claiming that being open critics of Glasgow council policy would make themselves unpopular) said: | A contributor to Restore George Square, a blog opposed to the developments, who asked to remain anonymous (claiming that being open critics of Glasgow council policy would make themselves unpopular) said: |
| The 'public consultation' has been pretty insulting. Months ago businesses were involved in a quantitative survey. No such courtesy was afforded to citizens. | The 'public consultation' has been pretty insulting. Months ago businesses were involved in a quantitative survey. No such courtesy was afforded to citizens. |
| The makeup of the judging panel is terrifying. Gordon Matheson, council leader, is also chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau who's remit is to 'create customers' for businesses. There's also Geoff Ellis, another director of the bureau who through DF Concerts is responsible for T in the Park and Glasgow on Ice. | The makeup of the judging panel is terrifying. Gordon Matheson, council leader, is also chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau who's remit is to 'create customers' for businesses. There's also Geoff Ellis, another director of the bureau who through DF Concerts is responsible for T in the Park and Glasgow on Ice. |
| We have said several times that if the economic situation in Glasgow requires the effective commercialisation of one of its famous public spaces then the council should come out and have that argument. They have not been forthcoming with that. Instead we are given patronising soundbites about 'giving Glaswegians the square they deserve'. It's utterly cynical politics. | We have said several times that if the economic situation in Glasgow requires the effective commercialisation of one of its famous public spaces then the council should come out and have that argument. They have not been forthcoming with that. Instead we are given patronising soundbites about 'giving Glaswegians the square they deserve'. It's utterly cynical politics. |
| A referendum on the square's future would be the second such vote in Scotland in under a year. In March last year, voters in Aberdeen approved an ambitious project to renovate the city's Union Park Gardens in a controversial online poll, however the plans were later narrowly rejected by the city's council after a grassroots campaign by objectors. | A referendum on the square's future would be the second such vote in Scotland in under a year. In March last year, voters in Aberdeen approved an ambitious project to renovate the city's Union Park Gardens in a controversial online poll, however the plans were later narrowly rejected by the city's council after a grassroots campaign by objectors. |
| The row follows another dispute over the use of open spaces in Glasgow. Campaigners recently criticised the council after an application to build luxury flats on a community meadow in North Kelvin was lodged over the Christmas period, giving locals just two weeks to muster opposition to the plans. | The row follows another dispute over the use of open spaces in Glasgow. Campaigners recently criticised the council after an application to build luxury flats on a community meadow in North Kelvin was lodged over the Christmas period, giving locals just two weeks to muster opposition to the plans. |
| In a statement, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: | In a statement, a spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: |
| We carried out an exercise last year involving resident focus groups and in-depth stakeholder interviews. | We carried out an exercise last year involving resident focus groups and in-depth stakeholder interviews. |
| This played a role in establishing what the future vision of the square should be as well as priorities in terms of the redevelopment. | This played a role in establishing what the future vision of the square should be as well as priorities in terms of the redevelopment. |
| We are now putting the six design submissions on display and any views from the public will be made available to the judging panel. | We are now putting the six design submissions on display and any views from the public will be made available to the judging panel. |
| However, Meikle argues that one popular opinion - the flurry of complaints and bemused remarks on Twitter and Facebook - is not being represented. He said: | However, Meikle argues that one popular opinion - the flurry of complaints and bemused remarks on Twitter and Facebook - is not being represented. He said: |
| Judging from the reaction on social media, it seems the majority of people would like to see the surface of the square upgraded and the grass and trees restored. I'm sure that could be done for far less than £15m. | Judging from the reaction on social media, it seems the majority of people would like to see the surface of the square upgraded and the grass and trees restored. I'm sure that could be done for far less than £15m. |
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