Axe falls on 40 city venues
Glasgow will see 40 attractions close doors as the financial impact of the pandemic hits hard, reports
THEY are some of the city’s most popular venues and were set to offer a lifeline for residents once lockdown finally eases.
But Glasgow is set to see a staggering 40 sports venues or pitches, five libraries, and 11 community centres or halls remaining shut following lockdown.
Three museums are also listed as not due for reopening, including the city’s historic Scotland Street School – though it’s hoped the museum will ultimately be turned into a nursery under plans approved as the second lockdown hit.
The huge cuts to sport and culture facilities – in a pattern feared to be repeated in other parts of Scotland – come despite health experts warning of the importance of getting people active after lockdown.
The list of facilities that will not reopen stretches across the city in almost every community.
It includes 11 community centres and halls, 10 bowling centres, five libraries, four pitch-and-putts, three museums and two Glasgow Club gyms.
The coronavirus pandemic hit Glasgow Life hard, with venues closed and a loss of income through hall hires, memberships and service charges.
A financial package has been agreed that the council will subsidise the organisation with a guarantee of £100 million.
It will allow the reopening of a number of venues including cultural, community and sports venues.
In total, around 90 out of 160 are planned to reopen, leaving dozens with an uncertain future.
But the list of venues not planned to reopen is a serious concern.
On the list, titled “Venues Not Currently Scheduled to Reopen”, are locations including the Glasgow National Hockey Centre and the Linn Park and Ruchill golf courses, and a sports hall by Scotstoun stadium. Tennis, bowls and pitch-and-putt at several city parks are also on the list.
Libraries at Maryhill, Whiteinch, Barmulloch, the Couper Institute and at the city centre’s Gallery of Modern Art will also remain closed, although the GOMA museum is due to reopen.
Eleven community centres including in Pollokshields, Shettleston, Blackhill and Tollcross have no current plans to reopen.
Also not due to reopen are the Provand’s Lordship and St Mungo’s Museum.
It is understood Glasgow City Council – which still retains ownership of the venues – has not decided what to do with the properties on the list, including whether to sell them, if they do close for good. Glasgow City Council pointed out that Scotland Street School – which appears on the list – is still due to be turned into an early-years and nursery facility, and Ibrox Football Centre cannot reopen now as it is being used as a Covid test centre.
A spokesman for Glasgow Life, said: “Glasgow Life’s operating budget this year is nearly 15 per cent lower than pre-pandemic budgets for the charity and the £100m safety net announced by Glasgow City Council will be fully utilised reopening more than 90 facilities across the city.
“Glasgow Life has been saying for some time that the ongoing impact of Covid-19 is likely to mean not all our venues could reopen and that our finances would dictate what we would be able to do in the future.
“Once the future of any venue is decided in discussion with Glasgow City Council, we will make users aware.”
A Glasgow council spokesman said: “The council has engaged with the Government, through both officials and its political leadership, over the last year to make the case for supporting cultural and leisure services – but also the broader challenge of lost income across local government as a result of the pandemic.”
Glasgow Life’s budget this year is nearly 15 per cent lower