Winter Gardens’ plant row
A ROW has broken out over fears for plants at the now-closed Winter Gardens.
MP Paul Sweeney raised concerns amid claims heating had been switched off.
However, council bosses have moved to reassure the public that plants are safe and will be maintained.
A spokeswoman said any plants of significant value will be moved to other glasshouses in the city.
COUNCIL bosses have moved to reassure the public that plants in the now-closed Winter Gardens are safe.
A row broke out after Labour MP Paul Sweeney raised concern for the gardens’ exotic plants amid claims heating in the building had been switched off.
Council leader Susan Aitken then took to Twitter to accuse Mr Sweeney of lying about the situation.
The Glasgow North East MP had said to stop maintenance of the plants would be an “appalling act of civic vandalism”.
However, a spokeswoman for the council said any plants of significant value will be moved to other glasshouses in the city.
Remaining plants, she said, will be maintained.
Mr Sweeney responded on social media: “Not according to a senior official in the parks department who I spoke to today.
“The heating has been turned down to a ‘minimal level’ and they said they won’t be maintaining remaining plants as none are regarded as of ‘horticultural value’, but that is beside the point isn’t it.”
The MP said the council had not briefed its own councillors on plans for the attraction, and accused bosses of “a total lack of transparency”.
The future of the Winter Gardens remains unclear, with the cost of necessary repairs an estimated £5million to £7.5m.
The council said the sealant used to secure thousands of windows in the Victorian glasshouse, where the museum’s fire escapes are located, needs to be replaced.
A pane of glass fell into the public area of the building in 2016.
Opened in 1898, the Victorian glasshouse showcases Glasgow’s history through a display of tropical flora from around the world, from spices to medicinal plants.
The council said in November a feasibility study to be put before councillors will explore options for the People’s Palace, Winter Gardens and other historic glasshouse structures.
In a statement, Mr Sweeney said: “Drastic cuts to council funding by the Scottish Government have led us to this precipice, with some £1.5billion lost from local authority budgets across Scotland since 2011.
“But if these reports prove true, this drastic step would be an appalling act of civic vandalism.
“The outcry over the planned indefinite closure of the People’s Palace resulted in a welcome U-turn.
“But it now appears that the relief we felt at that decision was misplaced and that only the museum building has been spared.
“Glaswegians will be appalled at the casual and underhand way this cherished part of our city’s heritage is being lost.”
But the Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “This is not true and we have not turned the heating off in the Winter Gardens and have no intentions of doing this.
“We want to reassure any concerned citizens that we have already moved the plants of significant horticultural value, as previously agreed, to our other glasshouses across the city and we will continue to maintain any remaining plants.”