Councillors stump up £350,000 after People’s Pledge campaign
THE People’s Palace is to remain open after funding was made available by council officials.
A total of £350,000 worth of funding has been agreed by members of the City’s Administration Committee to allow a series of proposed adaptations to take place to ensure the building meets fire safety standards.
As reported exclusively by the Evening Times, the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens were due to close at the end of the year due to health and safety concerns.
We launched a People’s Palace Pledge with four key points including prioritising an action plan, devising a strategy for the future sustainability of Glasgow’s museums and galleries, plan to ensure that the Winter Gardens reopens. These have been met, however, we are still seeking assurances that there will be public access to the People’s Palace exhibits during the temporary closure.
As the People’s Palace requires access to the historic glasshouse for fire exits and sanitary facilities, it was expected to close indefinitely while a long-term plan was drawn up.
However, it is now likely that the People’s Palace will shut on a temporary basis while the necessary permissions are gained and adaptations are completed.
It is estimated the work to enable the building to remain open on a longer term basis will take eight to 12 weeks.
The proposal placed before the committee also indicated that the current situation is an opportunity for a ‘complete review of the purpose and function of both buildings’, but also all of the city’s other remaining, historic glasshouse structures.
A feasibility study will look to identify a sustainable future for these buildings that will protect the long term investment that is required for them.
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “In the circumstances it is right that we have pursued a plan that will allow it to remain open independently of the Winter Gardens.
“The Winter Gardens is also a much-loved part of the city’s heritage, but given its ornate and detailed design it will always require a substantial and expensive programme of repairs.”
A 2016 survey found that the cost of much-needed structural and re-glazing repairs to the Winter Garden could cost up to £7.5m.
Conservative councillor David Meikle insisted that, whatever the outcome of the new feasibility study, an ongoing maintenance scheme should be introduced for all of Glasgow’s glasshouses.
He added: “It’s quite concerning that this was first raised in 2014 and it has taken four years to get a report in front of the committee.”