April 24 2024

Glasgow City Council is seeking statue specialists to dismantle, transport, store and conserve 11 bronze monuments, several of which are A-listed.

The process will see famous figures such as James Watt and Sir Walter Scott dismounted from the stone plinths from which they have long surveyed the square and taken away for refurbishment, before returning to play a key role in the new George Square.

Council leader Susan Aitken said: “This is very niche, highly specialised and painstaking work, so we need to ensure we have the right level of expertise on board from the get-go. To get that level of expertise, it’s clear we need specialists to help us find the right contractors for the job.

“These are A and B-listed monuments and for many people are a key part of the experience of visiting Glasgow’s main public space. It’s critical we get this right."

Statue removal is expected to begin next year, disappearing from view until their reinstatement in 2027.  

11 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 24 Apr 2024 at 11:36 AM

Glacial / Expensive / Underwhelming / middle class welfare / Wasteful.

Shortest game of buzzword bingo in history.
Looking for specialists to help pick a contractor ...

Has GCC been reduced to a point that it is a dry empty husk so that it needs help with everything?

#2 Posted by EM0 on 24 Apr 2024 at 14:57 PM

You can time your watch by the GCC can’t do anything right mob …. Boring and a waste of life energy. Sometimes things need done! End of story …. Go live a life worth living instead of finding importance through meaningless opposition!

#3 Posted by Gandalf the Pink on 24 Apr 2024 at 15:17 PM

#2

There are only three certainties in life.

Death, taxes and FBOT bitterly contesting anything in the west of Scotland.

#4 Posted by Showbiz Sam on 24 Apr 2024 at 16:02 PM

Number 3. Be that as it may - FBoT does have a POINT though?
In any case, why not just appoint Muriel Gray - she must know some worthies?

#5 Posted by Roddy_ on 24 Apr 2024 at 18:42 PM

I'm almost embarrassed that this needs to be stated.

The reason that specialists are required is because in-house specialism in the removal , renovation and consolidation of bronze statuary has never existed in the City Council, nor to my knowledge in any local authority in Scotland, nor indeed in any UK authority.

#6 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 24 Apr 2024 at 19:22 PM

I wonder how we have managed for the last 200 years?

Crawling along in our ignorance waiting for some self taught self employed distressed gentle person artisan to show us how to sling the crane and use a duster / cloot.

This is very basic stuff that the current Nat inspired Holyrood enabled political class treat as ground breaking open heart surgery requiring a Nobel prize.

No wonder we struggle to build a ferry.

#7 Posted by Roddy_ on 25 Apr 2024 at 12:48 PM

Look forward to FBOT dragging us into the 21st Century with his specialist knowledge in statue renovation, his new venture in shipbuilding and now, it seems, bridge design and procurement.

With competence to burn like this it surely only a matter of time before the Scot Gov headhunters come knocking. :)

#8 Posted by Chris on 25 Apr 2024 at 12:55 PM

#6 Thanks for your regular commitment to reminding us all that the loudest voice in the room is rarely the most profound.

#9 Posted by mike on 26 Apr 2024 at 10:16 AM

Should just call the woke lefties that did an efficient job in Bristol with the Colston statue. Into the Clyde with them!

#10 Posted by Lovely on 29 Apr 2024 at 21:35 PM

They've done such a good job with the square these last few decades as well. So forward thinking, radical, lots of positive strong action and change has been made and looks like a little itty bit more to come. Well done everyone. Welcome to full dystopia where failure is celebrated and those who question are not allowed.

#11 Posted by Lovely on 29 Apr 2024 at 21:36 PM

Don't we anyway usually let A and B listed things in Glasgow 'go on fire' or at least wait around until they fall over?

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