The Hidden Glasgow Forums

Schiehallion wrote:The city fathers have turned it into an outside extension of the SECC

If it wasn't all silenced, you would probably hear the click of the Sniper Scope case as it closed, and the swoosh of the blacked-out limo as it leaves the rear door of the City Chambers.

Thank you NuLab for nothing.

Pat Lally, New Labour? When he was council leader there wasn't much difference in the use of the square from say Charlie Gordon's regime. Neither of them could be possibly deemed New Labour.

Long before that, throwing up a wooden pre fab as an Information Centre was more controversial in its day than some of the recent changes.

What hasn't changed is the slinging about of political slurs without much thought.

Dexter St. Clair wrote:

Thank you NuLab for nothing.

Pat Lally, New Labour? When he was council leader there wasn't much difference in the use of the square from say Charlie Gordon's regime. Neither of them could be possibly deemed New Labour.

Long before that, throwing up a wooden pre fab as an Information Centre was more controversial in its day than some of the recent changes.

What hasn't changed is the slinging about of political slurs without much thought.

The square was cleared and re-surfaced in 1998 while we had a New Labour government and a Glasgow Council administered by members of that very party.

I don't care about Gordon, Lally, Tinky-Winky or whatever. The act was carried out by local politicians who were fully paid up members of Blair's New Labour.

See, I don't buy the old "ahh we're no really new Labour cos we're good old fashioned Glesga socialists". And neither does a lot of Scotland if current opinion polls are to be believed.

Anyway a wooden pre-fab is nothing compared to our square being repeatedly fenced off.

Strange thing is more Glasgow folk use the Square and is still as busy on a nice summer's day.

I see more tourists taking photos now but maybe its just me.

Should the Square not be used for say, the turning on of the Christmas Lights or New Year. And do the Council not have a duty to ensure that when it is used by this volume of people that they do so safely?

Looking at old photos of the Square shows how it has changed over the years. The one thing that hasn't changed is the possibility for people to use it and attracted to it by a variety of activities.

Alex you perhaps see more tourists taking photographs now because cameras are so easy to come by now and many, even on low incomes can access them.

George Square - regardless of who is in charge of the administration, continues to be sore point with some. I must admit that I for one don't like the new look square and as for the 'Christmas lights' - that's the one that really gets me. I recall when the lights were outstanding at George Square and in Buchanan, Argyle and Sauchiehall Streets. How much longer do we have to suffer the bells and holly straddled around the square and the lights on that tree....nothing compared to my youth.

The lighting on that previously adorned the main shopping streets were provided by the shop owners. I don't remember when they withdrew from this but remember it may have been in the early 80's.

In 2005 additional money was commited to adding new lights to those at the Square. Over recent years the Council has targeted resources to other parts of the city. Shettleston, Parkhead, Bridgeton, Dennistoun, Pollok and Cardonald.

Nothing ever appears to be the same as when we were younger. I am sure that in years to come many of out children will be saying the same thing.

Alex i think that George Square in currents current state is a bit of mess. There are more features on the Asphalt of the M8 Motorway through Charing Cross than there is in George Square.

Alex Glass wrote:Strange thing is more Glasgow folk use the Square and is still as busy on a nice summer's day.

The square has always been a central gathering point for Glaswegians through the years. I would say it has been used less in the last ten years than it was previously.

Alex Glass wrote:Should the Square not be used for say, the turning on of the Christmas Lights or New Year. And do the Council not have a duty to ensure that when it is used by this volume of people that they do so safely?

Of course the Square should be used for it's current activities such as turning the Christmas Lights on and New Year. But as less people use it and as the population declined the Square got pretty bare, as if in readiness for some huge Soviet style May Day parade complete with Tanks and Missile Launchers.

I recall years ago when there was more trees and grass, there was Rock Concerts, Armed Forces Exhibitions, Demos, Rememberance Services etc

Truth is less grass and trees is less maintenance, better for the road brush and better for the CCTV cameras to cover every angle.

The point is no other large European City would allow their main Square to be altered and chopped up bit by bit, with an Architect not being allowed anywhere near it.

Alex i think that George Square in its current state is a bit of mess. There are more features on the Asphalt of the M8 Motorway through Charing Cross than there is in George Square.

Alex Glass wrote:Strange thing is more Glasgow folk use the Square and is still as busy on a nice summer's day.

The square has always been a central gathering point for Glaswegians through the years. I would say it has been used less in the last ten years than it was previously.

Alex Glass wrote:Should the Square not be used for say, the turning on of the Christmas Lights or New Year. And do the Council not have a duty to ensure that when it is used by this volume of people that they do so safely?

Of course the Square should be used for it's current activities such as turning the Christmas Lights on and New Year. But as less people use it and as the population declined the Square got pretty bare, as if in readiness for some huge Soviet style May Day parade complete with Tanks and Missile Launchers.

I recall years ago when there was more trees and grass, there was Rock Concerts, Armed Forces Exhibitions, Demos, Remembrance Services etc

Truth is less grass and trees is less maintenance, better for the road brush and better for the CCTV cameras to cover every angle.

The point is no other large European City would allow their main Square to be altered and chopped up bit by bit, with an Architect not being allowed anywhere near it.

I agree with Socceroo on this one. I much prefered the square when it was grass....... Then you could nip round on your dinner break and see the `Nanny` lying on the grass

Yep! Grass was a lot better, plus you could sit on that little edging wall and move position according to the sun's position. Try and get a seat on a bench on a sunny day.

The photo in '75, as Ally Doll said, makes it look a lot more parkish and
welcoming.

Parkish will do for me Brickwall

glasgowken wrote:Very nice work Crusty, & brickwall

I've posted this a few times, but just in case someone missed it, this video includes a few scenes of George Square from 1960 ish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuIVabDdbWU

Absolutely magical stuff! Loved the guys with cans of McEwan's Export on the underground moving quietly when asked to do so!
Also, the total gridlock at Union St. and Argyll Sttreet. George Square in bloom with all the grass is just so much more colourful.

I noticed this picture on the BBC website - is that George Square in the background? It looks pretty depressing and crappy if it is.

Yes, yes it is....

Well it's not quite a Mayday parade with Tanks and Missile Launchers but i see Mr Purcell has his convoy of Bin Bag Launchers out in the Square. So that's what all the Asphalts for - photo calls!

Going off on a tangent here i know, but is it just me or does anyone else see stunts like this as a waste of Council Tax. 20 Cleansing pick ups with 20 squads sitting about the Square for the cameras.

I could give them a few areas that they could clean while they were waiting.