March 10 2021

A new report outlining measures to facilitate physical distancing at George Square has been prepared by Glasgow City Council as part of the Spaces for People programme.

The package of works builds on a series of temporary walking and cycling measures introduced across the city centre such as widened footpaths and automated traffic lights in a £7.5m programme managed by Sustrans to encourage active travel.

Now the focus is on George Square where temporary water-filled barriers will be replaced by a more attractive long-term solution. The report stated: "Ambitious plans to re-allocate road space in George Square, the city’s primary civic space to walking, wheeling and cycling, were drawn up and have been implemented using water filled barriers. These measures will soon be replaced by 'softer' planters, seats and other street furniture.

"Large scale hostile vehicle mitigation rated planters and trees will be used to green the space as well as restrict vehicle movement and protect pedestrians."

These works are expected to complete before the month is out with further complementary work to St Vincent Street and Queen Street completing by 15 May.

The George Square improvements follow the success of the Kelvin Way active travel corridor where temporary planting has been introduced to line a segregated cycle route, part of 28km of new cycle routes around the city.

12 Comments

#1 Posted by EM0 on 10 Mar 2021 at 09:20 AM

Seems crazy not to just go for the full redesign that has been getting talked about rather than more money on temporary measures.

#2 Posted by Peter on 10 Mar 2021 at 10:49 AM

#1 You know this 'temporary' fix will stay forever, right? All of this inconsistent cycle routes, chaotic pedestrianization, and more Wetherspoon mess just because one guy does not like the bolder designs. Wow.

#3 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 10 Mar 2021 at 10:58 AM

OMG -- back to the 70's with low cost dross instead of any level of imagination or innovation.

Wouldn't be so bad if it was cheap -- I fear we are paying top dollar for garden centre quality.

#4 Posted by Spike on 10 Mar 2021 at 16:13 PM

Definitely looks tacky, surely it's more cost effective to deliver a high quality scheme now which will not require revisiting in a few years time.

#5 Posted by Jessica Davis on 10 Mar 2021 at 16:53 PM

Scheme looks tacky and rubbish and a waste of money. You probably see local authorities produce rubbish when there is an incompetent person in charge of a thing who didn't get their job on merit, but through nepotism or something else.

#6 Posted by Mick on 11 Mar 2021 at 14:02 PM

Jeez. Where's the ambition? All great European cities have great public squares and plazas. We deserve better that this failure of the inagination.

#7 Posted by Dave on 11 Mar 2021 at 16:16 PM

@6 Mick - I know right!? Perhaps if we held a competition to attarct top architectural talent to come up with some ideas, then had a panel of experts to judge the winner... oh wait, we did....

#8 Posted by Darwin on 11 Mar 2021 at 19:45 PM

As usual folk want to run before they can walk.. What's wrong with developing the square bit by bit organically intead of arguing for years over the proposed design which will keep no-one happy. Yes that looks a bit temporary, but if works a more permanent solution can develop. Can even out a playpen in the corner for Fat Bloke on Tour?

#9 Posted by MC on 11 Mar 2021 at 23:25 PM

- We need a visualization on temporary permament changes of the Square
- Do we have budget for that?
- COVID
- Say no more, my 5yo kiddo can play Minecraft.
- Good, bonus check for all.

#10 Posted by Herman Gambit on 12 Mar 2021 at 10:15 AM

@7 These kind of competitions often don't work because many good architects/designers don't have the spare time to do work for free, they need to spend their time doing work that will earn them money. Then with a lot of awards these days lots of people are more interested in the identity of the prize winners rather than the quality of the work.

#11 Posted by Don Diamante on 12 Mar 2021 at 11:07 AM

Social distancing measures outdoors while we are all being vaccinated by summer - yet you can still stand right next to someone in Tesco and fondle the same bananas.

#12 Posted by Dobbie's Garden Centre Scratch 'n' Dent Corner on 12 Mar 2021 at 17:45 PM

Bit downmarket for my tastes.

Post your comments