Yesterday Glaswegians gathered outside the City Chambers in George Square to stage a protest aimed at saving the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens
The People’s Palace and Winter Garden in Glasgow Green were first closed in December, as reported by Glasgow Live. Following a £350,000 revamp, the People’s Palace reopened back in April, though the Winter Gardens remain closed.
Roughly 100 protesters descended on George Square with banners to call on Glasgow City Council to re-open the Winter Gardens with straightforward repairs rather than repurposing or reimagining the venue.
The protest was particularly opposed to the private nature of council meetings on the fate of the Winter Gardens, fearing that plans would put “profit before people.”
Part of the protest description reads: “We oppose decisions made behind closed doors to steal away the People's Palace and keep our Winter Gardens closed and neglected.
“Save our People's Palace and Winter Gardens - let's make history - we can do it! Let’s ensure the future of the 121 year old A-listed People's Palace and Winter Gardens for generations yet to come.”
Speaking to Glasgow Live after the protest, the Secretary for Friends of the Palace Winter Gardens & Glasgow Green, Mairi Robertson Carrey, said: “We were outside the City Chambers yesterday before the summer recess to let the council know that we don’t agree with them.
“Some councillors did come out to speak to us, maybe half a dozen. It wasn’t loads, but it was encouraging. Councillors including Matt Kerr said that they would raise our issues during the debates - though I don’t know if that happened or not.
“We are concerned about the process over the past six months and the lack of transparency. We want the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens to be repaired and restored, not reimagined or repurposed behind closed doors.”
The Friends of the Palace Winter Gardens & Glasgow Green have told Glasgow Live that this is the first of several protests they plan to stage in an attempt to influence the outcome of deliberations on the People’s Palace and the Winter Gardens.
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