Following on from the blog about the George Square revamp, you may recollect that the idea of a redesign has been scrapped. The architect who won the competition called for a public meeting and this was held on Monday 19 February (noticeably at 8 o’clock in the morning at a well known foodies’ restaurant in the Merchant City). The purpose was to try to keep a dialogue going about the future of the look of George Square. 30- 40 people went along. Views included concerns about the level of traffic around the square; apparently most agreed the red tarmac has to go; and there seems to have been consensus that there should be no water feature. Probably a good idea – we have enough water in Scotland as it is and fountains or pools of water just attract litter.
Our office block looks directly onto the Square. Should someone from our firm have gone to the meeting? Well no one went. The Councillors have made an embarrassing U turn on their decision already and I don’t think another meeting about it will really make that much of a difference.
It is a shame the architect has lost out on a potential fee of thousands for the contract, and I can see why he has tried to resurrect the issue- he obviously feels very strongly about his home city’s civic space!
I for one would just like better seating and maybe a bit more grass for the kids to play on when it is sunny enough to sit in the square with a meal deal sandwich for my lunch.
