Talks over future of city venues
PLANS for the People’s Palace will go before councillors next month.
It comes as the Evening Times today called for the council to sign up to a four-point pledge on the future of the museum and Winter Gardens.
The popular buildings in Glasgow Green will be closed at the end of the year over concerns for health and safety.
OPTIONS for the future of the People’s Palace will be presented to councillors next month.
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, today revealed that a request to commit funds to construct a new fire exit and access to sanitary facilities will be made.
It come after the news last week that that the popular buildings in Glasgow Green will be closed at the end of the year over concerns for health and safety.
Structural engineers have deemed the historic glasshouse unsafe and in need of repairs that will cost up to £7million.
While the buildings are operated separately, with the Winter Gardens able to open when the museum is closed, the People’s Palace museum depends on accommodation in the Winter Gardens for both sanitary facilities and means of escape in an emergency.
And today the Evening Times called for the council to sign up to a four-point People’s Palace Pledge:
Prioritise creation of an action plan. Devise a strategy for the future sustainability of Glasgow’s museums and galleries. Winter Gardens: Plan to ensure that it will remain open. Ensure public access to the People’s Palace exhibits during the temporary closure.
Since opening in 1898, the People’s Palace has played an important and priceless part of Glasgow’s heritage and is home to a collection of objects, photographs, prints and film which give a view into how Glaswegians lived, worked and played in years gone by to the present day.
Paul Sweeney MP has backed our list of pledges.
He said: “I fully support the Evening Times’ pledge to protect the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens as a vital part of Glasgow’s heritage.”
Glasgow Life, which operates the People’s Palace, has requested contractors to prepare a scheme that would allow the museum to remain open independently.
It would involve de-coupling the two halves of the complex with the total
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If approval is given for the works, there will be a threemonth closure.
Glasgow Life believes the de-coupling works will have a long-term benefit for the museum and Winter Gardens beyond the current structural issues by allowing the buildings to operate independently.
Glasgow Life chairman Councillor David McDonald said: “A plan is being prepared that would allow the People’s Palace to operate independently, which I hope will be approved by councillors in the coming weeks.”