Queen's Park Glasshouse to 'remain open for foreseeable future'

Plans to close a popular 19th century glasshouse in Glasgow have been halted, with the building to "remain open for the foreseeable future".

Queen's Park Glasshouse was set to close permanently in August after Glasgow City Council said earlier this month the cost of keeping it open had become unsustainable.

However, the SNP administration has now reversed the plan and says the building will stay open.

Protesters against the closure called for more detail on the announcement and demanded answers on what the long-term future of the glasshouse will involve.

Laura Doherty, the city convener for neighbourhood services, confirmed the glasshouse will remain open while "discussions on a sustainable future continue, ensuring public access to the glasshouse and the toilets is maintained".

She told councillors that officials will continue to speak to interested parties through the People Make Glasgow Communities [PMGC] programme - which allows third sector groups to run council-owned properties.

The councillor said it was undeniable the glasshouse needs "significant capital investment" but reiterated the local authority will "keep the glasshouse open while a longer-term solution is found".

The council previously said it was looking at alternative uses for the building, and a solution to replacing the building's dome, which was removed over safety concerns several years ago.

It is understood the current opening hours of 10:00 to 15.30 will remain in place.

Protesters gathered outside the city chambers during the meeting to demand "concrete answers" about the building's future.

In an online post the Save Queen's Park Glasshouse group said: "The glasshouse is far from being saved.

"We have no details about how long the glasshouse will remain open for or regarding any investment, whether the fish or any of the staff will remain on site, or to what extent communities will be involved going forward."

The free access glasshouse has been a landmark in the city's south side since its construction in 1895 but in recent years there have been concerns about the building's safety and uncertainty over its long-term future.

It was previously home to an array of sub-tropical plants and animals, a café and a soft play area.

At the start of June Glasgow City Council said costs to keep the glasshouse going had become unsustainable, citing a decision to make £49m of budget savings in February 2023.

It said staff at the glasshouse would be redeployed elsewhere in the city's parks department.

Bailie Soryia Siddique, Labour, who represents Southside Central, said there remained a lack of detail about the glasshouse's future.

She said: "Residents deserve open, honest and transparent communication about the next steps, alongside a clear commitment on the funding needed to protect and restore this much-loved part of Glasgow's heritage."

Glasgow Greens co-leader Jon Molyneux asked for a time limit on questions to be suspended for the glasshouse issue due to the public interest in the building, but his motion fell.

He wanted more detail on what the SNP's announcement means in practice, including how the "operational arrangements" would work.

Doherty said her door was open to anyone who wanted to have further discussions on the glasshouse.

After the decision to reverse the closure was announced, Mhairi Hunter, SNP, councillor for Southside Central, said: "The engagement and passion shown by campaigners… has played a vital role in getting us to this point, and I thank campaigners for all their hard work."

Story by Local Democracy Reporting Service reporter Drew Sandelands.