Proposal unveiled to modernise Buchanan Galleries
Proposals to revamp the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre in Glasgow have been unveiled.Owners Landsec announced last year it intended to ditch a plan to demolish the shopping centre in favour of redevelopment.Now the company has lodged a planning application with Glasgow City Council regarding the site that would see a destination food hall added and improved accessibility created.Landsec said the plans for the shopping centre would "truly reflect the priorities of the local community."
Possible additions to the site include reconfiguring and modernising the existing mall in a way that would "better engage" with Buchanan Street, adding new leisure and dining concepts - including a destination food hall - and developing a new retail and leisure space in the gap site beside the centre.There would also be a focus on improved accessibility and a new digital art strategy to support brands and civic activities in Glasgow.Stuart Orr, Landsec's senior development manager, said: "Our plan is a direct response to the community's call for improved retail and leisure spaces in Glasgow. "Extensive stakeholder engagement over the years has shaped a solution that truly reflects the priorities of the local community."
The proposals are the latest ideas in a long-running attempt to redevelop the centre, which opened in 1999.The plans have been worked on with the Threesixty Architecture firm. The centre would remain open while construction work was carried out.Threesixty Architecture's managing director Alan Anthony said the new look would make the shopping centre "more open and inviting", helping it become a "key civic space" in the city. Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said the proposals showed " a renewed and growing confidence in Glasgow" as a city.The plans can be viewed in person at the galleries from 26-28 June.
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BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Scottish fire service cuts could cost lives, says union
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is claiming that wide-ranging changes to the fire service in Scotland could cost lives, despite assurances from senior officers that public safety will not be Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is proposing the closure of up to 13 stations, new arrangements for night and weekend cover at others and the permanent withdrawal of 10 appliances stations in Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Musselburgh could be shut down or 23 options, being published on Wednesday, involve more than 30 fire stations in 14 local authority areas, and the service has warned that more change is likely in years to come. The FBU says the service is "already on its knees" after a decade of what it calls real-terms SFRS chief officer Stuart Stevens said: "I absolutely recognise the concerns that people will have because these are significant changes that we're proposing, but let me be clear - any changes we will make will only be done if it ensures the safety of the community of Scotland."This is a really important step for the organisation to make sure that the service is fit for Scotland's future."The service says final decisions will be based on a statistical study of operational risk and fires have fallen to an all-time low and over the last two decades, deaths caused by fire have fallen from 89 to 42. The casualty rate has also dropped from 1,951 to contrast, firefighters are dealing with more floods, wildfires and also means some stations are in locations where they are no longer options include plans to repair or rebuild some stations, and to transfer staff and appliances to other part-time stations which have not been fully operational for years could also close for good. How should the fire service operate? Chief officer Stevens says the SFRS has an £800m backlog for repairs in its buildings, fleet and Scottish government has increased the SFRS capital budget to £47m but he says £60m a year is needed to resolve issues with the fleet and argues that the service has to reduce running costs and review the way it operates, placing a greater emphasis on prevention."This organisation requires substantial, sustainable change in order for us to continue to deliver for the people of Scotland and prepare Scotland for the future challenges that it faces," he said. The proposals involve the permanent removal of 10 appliances which were temporarily withdrawn two years ago, resulting in a reduction of 166 firefighter Fire Brigade Union says that is in addition to the loss of 1,200 firefighters' jobs since the single national service was created in says it also "resoundingly rejects" proposals to change shift patterns at some would involve some appliances having full-time crews from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 18:00, and-on call crews outside those Scottish secretary John McKenzie said: "Our members and the Scottish public have suffered more than enough cuts to the fire service."For over a decade real-terms budget cuts have increased risks to public safety, with firefighter numbers slashed and response times increasing as a result."The service is already on its knees because of these cuts. That has led to increases in response times and when this time is lost, tragically lives will also be lost."The FBU does support some of the changes put forward in the review, but says the service needs more investment to take account of "new and emerging threats."Chief officer Stevens said the temporary removal of the 10 appliances in 2023 had had "no detrimental effect on community outcomes."On response times, he urged caution over how they should be interpreted and said the service had invested £30m on a new command and control system."The point at which a fire starts and the point in which it's discovered is the most important part in determining the outcome of a fire," he argued."That's why we believe that investment in prevention is the key to this." How will remote communities be affected? There is not a community in Scotland that will welcome changes to its fire cover, and the closure or downgrading of stations in places such as Balmossie in Dundee will be opposed by local people and Fetlar, one of the North Isles of Shetland, the fire station hasn't been in use for years because of a lack of local volunteers who are willing or physically able to meet the service's fitness requirements for on-call Bellis, secretary of Fetlar Community Association, says a third of the island's population of 56 is over the age of 65 and only two are their says the Scottish Ambulance Service allows four local people to act as first responders, using an ambulance on the island and providing medical assistance."We'd like something similar for the fire service," she said."We appreciate fire is very different, you could be dealing with very dangerous situations, but it would be helpful if the fire service could come up with some sort of similar model for remote island communities."Under the review, Fetlar is designated as a "long-term dormant" station, unused for up to 10 years or more, along with seven others in Crianlarich, Nethy Bridge, Ratagan, the Isle of Muck, Colintraive, Corriecravie on Arran and the Isle of are proposed for closure under the options which will now go out for public consultation for 12 weeks.
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Education Secretary announces £40 million for crisis-hit Dundee University
The Education Secretary has announced £40 million in funding for crisis-hit Dundee University. Jenny Gilruth said the money has been agreed 'in principle' and will be given out over a two-year academic period. She said the Scottish Government had used a special power to order the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), which usually issues cash independently, to give the award directly to Dundee, due to the 'exceptional circumstances' surrounding the university. 'This is a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances which require a unique and unprecedented response,' she said in a statement to Holyrood. The minister said the cash would come with conditions and that it would only be released once a sustainable, long-term recovery plan is put in place by the university. It comes after a scathing report into the university's handling of its financial crisis led to the resignations of three senior members of the institution, including its interim principal. The report by the SFC found that university bosses, and its governing body, repeatedly failed to identify the crisis and take action, describing problems facing it as 'self-inflicted'. The Scottish Government had already funded a £22 million bailout of the institution, which is struggling to deal with a £35 million financial black hole. Speaking to MSPs on Tuesday, Ms Gilruth said she would focus on ensuring the university 'emerges from this crisis stronger than ever'. She said: 'I can confirm that the Scottish Government will provide funding in principle of up to £40 million over two academic years or three financial years via the Scottish Funding Council to support the University of Dundee.' The Education Secretary said that while funding decisions on universities are usually a matter for the SFC, the Scottish Government had to directly step in, given the scale of the crisis at Dundee. She said: 'This is a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances which require a unique and unprecedented response. 'Where there has been the appearance of financial mismanagement at an institution, Scottish ministers are obliged to consider whether it is necessary or expedient to issue a direction to the SFC about the provision of financial support. 'Subject to the public value tests I have set out today, Scottish ministers consider it is both necessary and expedient for a direction to be issued to the SFC under Section 25 of the Further and Higher Education Scotland Act 2005. 'The use of this power is unprecedented and has been made necessary by the exceptional circumstances at the university.' Ms Gilruth told MSPs the £40 million fund was 'not about rewarding failure'. She said: 'This is about responding to an unprecedented and unique situation which threatens much of what we hold dear in our university sector.' She added: 'The Scottish Government is determined to do everything that we can to secure a positive future for Dundee University that must be achieved through delivery of a sustainable long-term recovery plan, which will see public financial support work alongside commercial and private investment to ultimately see reliance on extraordinary public funding ending.' Miles Briggs, education spokesman for the Scottish Tories, said: 'While the priority must be ensuring Dundee University gets on the road to recovery, it is hard to accept that we should just draw a line under the financial vandalism that went on for far too long. 'Those responsible for that gross mismanagement have rightly fallen on their sword but we must now see SNP ministers robustly scrutinise how the university will bring their finances into a sustainable position going forward. 'Staff and students remain deeply concerned about the precarious position the university finds itself in and will be worried that there appears to be no sign of a Plan B currently. 'There was clearly something rotten with the culture that was allowed to fester within Dundee University and that came from the very top. 'Too many of Scotland's universities are in an unsustainable position currently, yet we are still to see SNP ministers or university bosses address this crisis with the leadership that is required.'
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
MAIL SPORT COMMENT: Paraag Marathe and Andrew Cavenagh are serious men ... with an air of authenticity their predecessors at Rangers lacked
Telling people the things they want to hear really isn't all that difficult. Heaven knows, the Rangers support have heard it all in recent times. From moonbeams, front-loaded war-chests, rivals set to collapse like a house of cards and much, much more, the custodians of the club have spouted enough hot air to fly a balloon across the Atlantic and back in the past 20 years. Notably, there was none of that on Monday as Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe, main figures in the American consortium, met the media for the first time after their £20million investment had first been approved at a general meeting. While it will be trophies rather than words that the businessmen are ultimately judged on across their time at Ibrox, everyone present was left with the impression that Rangers are now in the hands of impressive people with boundless ambitions and a clear plan. As tempting as it would have been for the pair to get caught up in the moment and promise the earth like so many before them, the only guarantee they actually gave was to leave no stone unturned in their quest to return Rangers to the top of Scottish football. The trick will be doing so while their stock is still high. There was still plenty of meat on the bone for the masses to devour. But there was no attempt to disguise the fact that neither will seek to take shortcuts back to the top. After an initial injection of cash, the modus operandi will be shrewd player trading and data-led recruitment. They sincerely believe they can win the Premiership title in short order, but accept the task is extremely arduous. The same applies to reaching the Champions League on an annual basis. Both are also cognisant of the fact the west of Scotland isn't known for its deep reserves of patience and are prepared for what might come if a recalibrated side under a new manager doesn't hit the ground running. The word 'project' was never actually used. Without question, though, that's exactly what's now under way. Marathe spoke of the need for discipline to underpin every decision made in order for the strategy to succeed and of the need of the club to be financially sustainable. You didn't sense these were mere empty platitudes. While Rangers will gain from the know-how and experience of the 49ers and Leeds, there will be no direct financial benefit from those relationships. Similarly, the redevelopment of Ibrox isn't being seen as a quick fix. Quite clearly then, a club that's haemorrhaged money for years is going to have to learn to wipe its face. The words of Cavenagh and Marathe couldn't have been further removed from the hype and hyperbole of so many of their predecessors. That made their introductions all the more impressive. It's much harder to tell the public how it's actually going to be.
