Glasgow George Square to have “modest” revamp

REVISED plans to give Glasgow’s George Square a “facelift” were approved by councillors yesterday after a radical overhaul was abandoned in the face of public opposition.

The decision, rubber-stamped at the council’s executive committee, will see a more modest change to the square than had previously been proposed.

A new grey surface will replace the current red tarmac, the present grass areas will be expanded and all 13 statues kept in place, at a cost of £500,000.

The original £15 million proposal to revamp the area collapsed in acrimony in January.

The first stage of the work will begin in July and is due to finish in September in time for Rem-embrance Day. A second stage will begin after the Commonwealth Games next year.

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland ran the original design competition and described it as a “debacle”.

In a report about the competition, it criticised council leader Gordon Matheson for attempting to force through his own plan.

The document said the original winning design by John McAslan & Partners was chosen from a shortlist of six entries by the judging panel, but Mr Matheson supported another entry during the process and cancelled the entire plan.

It cost taxpayers an estimated £100,000 and architectural practices a further £200,000.

Last night, Mr McAslan was reported to have called on the council to consider if there was any sense in spending £500,000 of public money on work which is likely to be ripped up after the Commonwealth Games.

“They might as well kiss goodbye to £500,000,” he said. “It is not an effective or appropriate use of public funds.”

However, Mr Matheson insisted that the new plans reflected public feeling. “The people of Glasgow were very vocal throughout the design competition that they did not want a radical redesign of the square.

“They wanted the statues to remain, the grass to stay and the red tarmac to go. We listened to their views and have responded.”

Council officers have been asked by councillors to prepare another paper on proposals for the second phase of the work to be considered by the committee later this year, including details of public consultation on the final surface and treatment.

But last night, top Scottish architect Alan Dunlop castigated the decision and said that the incident had been damaging to the reputation of Glasgow and its architects.

“I don’t think how this whole thing has turned out could leave anyone satisfied, it’s been a complete disaster for architects and for Glasgow, internationally as well. I don’t know how anyone could say that a grey rubber surface is beneficial or satisfactory outcome.”