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| Dumped: £15m plan to redevelop Glasgow's George Square dropped after popular backlash | Dumped: £15m plan to redevelop Glasgow's George Square dropped after popular backlash |
| (2 months later) | |
| Glasgow City Council has scrapped controversial plans to radically redevelop the city's George Square in the face of outspoken opposition from residents and opposition parties. | Glasgow City Council has scrapped controversial plans to radically redevelop the city's George Square in the face of outspoken opposition from residents and opposition parties. |
| In a statement the council said that the proposed £15m revamp would not go ahead and the square would receive a less costly and dramatic revamp, which the council insists will still be a "substantial facelift". | In a statement the council said that the proposed £15m revamp would not go ahead and the square would receive a less costly and dramatic revamp, which the council insists will still be a "substantial facelift". |
| A panel of judges appointed to choose a design from six shortlisted plans had selected a submission from architects John McAslan & Partners as its preferred design (after failing to reach a decision last week), but council leader Gordon Matheson said he recognised that Glaswegians did not support the proposals. | A panel of judges appointed to choose a design from six shortlisted plans had selected a submission from architects John McAslan & Partners as its preferred design (after failing to reach a decision last week), but council leader Gordon Matheson said he recognised that Glaswegians did not support the proposals. |
| In a statement, he said: | In a statement, he said: |
| The people of Glasgow have made it clear in no uncertain terms that they do not want a radical redesign of the square. | The people of Glasgow have made it clear in no uncertain terms that they do not want a radical redesign of the square. |
| They want the square to look better and be a place of which they can be proud - a place they can while away a sunny afternoon or get together and celebrate the big occasions in the life of the city. | They want the square to look better and be a place of which they can be proud - a place they can while away a sunny afternoon or get together and celebrate the big occasions in the life of the city. |
| They also want us to keep the statues where they are, and they like the grass. However, they clearly want rid of the red tarmac. | They also want us to keep the statues where they are, and they like the grass. However, they clearly want rid of the red tarmac. |
| I am proud to say that I am listening to them. | I am proud to say that I am listening to them. |
| Opponents of the scheme had criticised the shortlisted designs, which would have done away with the square's lawns and repositioned or removed its historic statues. Over 4,000 people signed an online petition calling for a halt to the plans. | Opponents of the scheme had criticised the shortlisted designs, which would have done away with the square's lawns and repositioned or removed its historic statues. Over 4,000 people signed an online petition calling for a halt to the plans. |
| A consultation by polling firm Ipsos MORI which sought the opinions of just 42 residents also came under fire. | A consultation by polling firm Ipsos MORI which sought the opinions of just 42 residents also came under fire. |
| Opposition councillors from across the political spectrum had joined together to oppose the plans. David Meikle, the city's sole Conservative councillor, said he was delighted that the scheme would not be going ahead: | Opposition councillors from across the political spectrum had joined together to oppose the plans. David Meikle, the city's sole Conservative councillor, said he was delighted that the scheme would not be going ahead: |
| This is an example of people power at its best, and it's a tremendous victory for everyone who signed the petition, wrote letters and took to social networks to express their opinions. | This is an example of people power at its best, and it's a tremendous victory for everyone who signed the petition, wrote letters and took to social networks to express their opinions. |
| I haven't received a single letter or email expressing support for the redesign plans. It's clear that the people of Glasgow did not want a radical redesign, and thankfully Gordon Matheson has finally listened to them. | I haven't received a single letter or email expressing support for the redesign plans. It's clear that the people of Glasgow did not want a radical redesign, and thankfully Gordon Matheson has finally listened to them. |
| This was not opposition for the sake of opposition – there was a clear proposal for an 'option seven'; replace the square's surface, restore the green space and make it the city centre park that it is meant to be. | This was not opposition for the sake of opposition – there was a clear proposal for an 'option seven'; replace the square's surface, restore the green space and make it the city centre park that it is meant to be. |
| He said that the council would have lessons to learn following the abandonment of the £15m project: | He said that the council would have lessons to learn following the abandonment of the £15m project: |
| This whole process has been a farce from the beginning. | This whole process has been a farce from the beginning. |
| If there had been a proper consultation from the start then the council wouldn't be dealing with this mess. How much money has already been spent just putting the shortlist together? | If there had been a proper consultation from the start then the council wouldn't be dealing with this mess. How much money has already been spent just putting the shortlist together? |
| It's embarrassing for the council, and it's damaging to the companies who spent time and money putting their design proposals together. | It's embarrassing for the council, and it's damaging to the companies who spent time and money putting their design proposals together. |
| SNP councillor Martin Docherty echoed Mr Meikle's concerns, saying: | SNP councillor Martin Docherty echoed Mr Meikle's concerns, saying: |
| The entire process for the redevelopment of George Square has been a farcical vanity project led by Gordon Matheson. The consultation process was flawed from the start by the council leader's determination to remove the famous statues in the square, minimise grassed areas in the city centre and continue his obsession with water features. | The entire process for the redevelopment of George Square has been a farcical vanity project led by Gordon Matheson. The consultation process was flawed from the start by the council leader's determination to remove the famous statues in the square, minimise grassed areas in the city centre and continue his obsession with water features. |
| The people of Glasgow have had next to no formal input into this decision, which makes a mockery of Labour's manifesto commitment to listen to local communities. Gordon Matheson's volte face cannot hide his poor judgement in leading a limited public consultation on the proposals. | The people of Glasgow have had next to no formal input into this decision, which makes a mockery of Labour's manifesto commitment to listen to local communities. Gordon Matheson's volte face cannot hide his poor judgement in leading a limited public consultation on the proposals. |
| Situated in the city centre outside council headquarters, George Square was originally laid out as private gardens before coming into public ownership in the late 19th century. Its last renovation in 1998 removed trees, reduced the space given over to grass and laid down a red tarmac surface which has proven unpopular with Glaswegians. | Situated in the city centre outside council headquarters, George Square was originally laid out as private gardens before coming into public ownership in the late 19th century. Its last renovation in 1998 removed trees, reduced the space given over to grass and laid down a red tarmac surface which has proven unpopular with Glaswegians. |
| Since then it has been used for events including the Olympic torch relay and Christmas carnivals as well as commercial events such as student fairs and whisky exhibits – a marked contrast to its long history as a site of political protest. | Since then it has been used for events including the Olympic torch relay and Christmas carnivals as well as commercial events such as student fairs and whisky exhibits – a marked contrast to its long history as a site of political protest. |
| A rally opposed to the development planned for 2 February has now been called off. | A rally opposed to the development planned for 2 February has now been called off. |
| Its organiser, Joe Docherty, said: | Its organiser, Joe Docherty, said: |
| Our cause has won out, and I have to commend Gordon Matheson's decision to listen to the people of Glasgow. | Our cause has won out, and I have to commend Gordon Matheson's decision to listen to the people of Glasgow. |
| The one lesson that the council should take from this is that if you don't properly consult the public you're going to be faced with a massive, massive backlash. | The one lesson that the council should take from this is that if you don't properly consult the public you're going to be faced with a massive, massive backlash. |
| Glaswegians are not dormant people. We can unite and we will win. | Glaswegians are not dormant people. We can unite and we will win. |
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