Councillor claims Glasgow's Queen Street benches ‘left to rot'
Critics say the seating areas in Queen Street have become unsightly and dangerous as a result of being unmaintained since their installation five years ago.
Now local authority chiefs say they will go as part of a planned £20 million revamp of the streets in and around George Square.
The Glasgow Times understands they were introduced as part of the Spaces for People programme that was initiated during lockdown.
Councillor Paul Carey BEM says they have become a 'public hazard' and insists frequent inspections should have been carried out to stop them falling into such a serious state of disrepair.
The benches are to be removed from Queen Street. (Image: Supplied) He added: 'The council have simply failed to look after them properly and the wood is now so rotten that if you sit on them, they just start to break apart. They must go as it is really only a matter of time before someone is injured using them.
'They were put in place as part of a positive initiative to give people somewhere to sit to get a breath of fresh air during lockdown, but they are now in such a sorry state that the only real option is to lose them."
The councillor for Drumchapel and Anniesland says the matter was brought to his attention after a constituent was injured using one of the benches.
Councillor Paul Carey (Image: Supplied)
He explained: 'The man told me he sat one of them and ended up with a large skelf sticking into him. It's taken a councillor to raise this and the question is why they were not properly and regularly inspected after being installed? They are a hazard now and should be cordoned off to the public until they are removed.'
READ MORE: Glasgow City Council spends £13m on agency staff
The council said today that the benches are earmarked to go as part of the redevelopment of George Square and surrounding streets. This project will include tarmac being replaced by 'high-quality stone', play areas for children and the installation of new state-of-the-art sensory gardens.
New greenery will be planted to complement the existing Norway maple and cherry trees, while feature lighting and new seating will also be installed to improve the square.
George Square is now closed off to the public. (Image: Colin Mearns)
Funding has been put in place for the works at the square and also the Avenues Project that will enhance North Hanover Street, George Street, West George Street, Cochrane Street and St Vincent Place. The cash is coming from the council, Scottish and UK governments.
The new-look George Square is expected to be open to the public in August 2026. Wooden hoardings are in place, with Glasgow's civic heartbeat now completely closed off to the public.
George Square is now closed off to the public. (Image: Colin Mearns)
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: 'The benches and decking on the east side of Queen Street were introduced on a temporary basis. These features will be removed as part of the work that's getting underway in George Square and the space will become a loading area.
'There are similar features on the west side of the street and these will also be removed, but the pavement will be widened permanently at this location, which will allow tables and chairs to continue to be used.'
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Daily Record
8 minutes ago
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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
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Nigel Farage to campaign in Scotland today for first time in six years as Reform UK targets Hamilton by-election
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
First Minister urges voters to back SNP in hotly-contested Hamilton election campaign
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Mr Swinney had this week visited Hamilton Central railway station as he and candidate Katy Loudon highlighted the Scottish Government's forthcoming abolition of peak rail fares, which they say could save the line's regular commuters up to £900 per year, and where they were joined by a host of Holyrood ministers. The First Minister told the Hamilton Advertiser of the vital by-election, a forerunner of next May's full Scottish Parliament contest: 'The people of Hamilton will see a level of intense political activity, which demonstrates that their support matters, their community matters and political parties are engaging round about the issues they're concerned about. 'Not for the first time, it's put Hamilton on the political map of Scotland – it's been there a number of times in the past and it's there again in 2025.' He told constituents: 'Their votes matter and how the people of Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse vote will be very influential. If people want to be certain that they will be able to see off the threat from Farage they should vote for the SNP. 'It's the only guaranteed way of defeating Farage and by voting for the SNP they'll have a local campaigner in Katy Loudon who will build on the work of Christina McKelvie – much respected, admired and loved – but also will be able to be influential with the Scottish Government in taking forward the priorities of the people of Hamilton on the cost of living or improving access to healthcare.' He added of the controversial Reform leader – who is expected to visit the constituency ahead of the election: 'Nigel Farage has got to explain himself and the politics he represents. I've made no secret of the fact I am entirely and wholly opposed to his politics and I'll reflect that in what I say to the wider public.' The SNP this week joined Labour in lodging an official complaint with Facebook and Instagram publisher Meta about Reform's paid social media election adverts claiming Anas Sarwar would 'prioritise the Pakistani community', featuring a 2022 video in which the Labour leader does not make that statement. Both Mr Swinney and Ms Loudon condemned the posts as 'blatantly racist' – echoed by other parties in the by-election including the Lib Dems and Greens – with the First Minister saying: 'There are actions that Meta can take, which are to remove that advert because it is a distortion of Anas Sarwar's message. 'It serves none of us; it's what I've been concerned about for some time and why I took the steps I have in confronting this disinformation agenda. It's debasing our politics and people can't make informed judgments because it's being peddled.' SNP candidate Ms Loudon said: 'The advert in question is a blatantly racist attack which has no place in Scottish politics, and now Ross Lambie has admitted it's also completely misleading. This is totally unacceptable and shows that people cannot trust anything Reform UK says.' Mr Swinney was joined on his third constituency visit in eight days by Scottish Government figures including Neil Gray, Jenny Gilruth, Mairi McAllan and Jamie Hepburn as they joined Ms Loudon to campaign and to highlight September's end of peak rail fares. Noting that a peak return from Hamilton Central to Glasgow costs £9.20 compared to the off-peak £6, Ms Loudon said: 'The SNP is taking action to cut costs for when times are incredibly tough and Labour have repeatedly let folk down. Scrapping peak fares is a vital part of John Swinney's cost of living guarantee and will save commuters hundreds of pounds. 'The SNP is tackling the issues that matter to people in Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse, supporting households during a cost of living crisis and bringing costs down with policies like free bus travel for 2.3 million people and bringing back the winter fuel payment.' The full list of 10 candidates in the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election is: Collette Bradley (Scottish Socialist Party); Andy Brady (Scottish Family Party); Ross Lambie (Reform); Katy Loudon (SNP); Janice MacKay (UKIP); Ann McGuinness (Green); Aisha Mir (Liberal Democrats); Richard Nelson (Conservative); Davy Russell (Labour); and Marc Wilkinson (independent).
