Robert Brown Slams Go Ape decision

12.00.00am GMT Fri 28th Mar 2008

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown has today slammed the Glasgow City Council decision to approve the Go Ape development in Pollok Park as "ill judged" and "unsuitable", and has called on Scottish Ministers to overturn the decision.

Despite receiving hundreds of objections, Glasgow Councillors approved the scheme this week on a majority vote supported by many Labour and SNP Councillors.

The Maxwell family, who donated the Park to the people of Glasgow, along with the National Trust, had also objected.

The decision comes at a time when many other green areas across Glasgow have recently been under threat - from the Botanic Gardens in Hillhead to the stepping stones parks in Pollokshields, and Broomhill Park in the West End.

Robert Brown said:

"I'm not against the development of a Go Ape site in Glasgow, but I don't think it should be within a park which has been gifted to the people of Glasgow for all of us to enjoy.

"Charging people £25 a time to enjoy their own park was surely not what the Maxwell family had in mind when they generously donated the park to the city.

"Sadly, I think there is a pattern developing with Glasgow City Council of bad consultation leading to ill judged decisions affecting parks and green space all over the city, and ending up with outcomes which are highly controversial and unwelcome to people in the local neighbourhood.

"Its not just Pollok Park that's been under threat lately, but thankfully local campaigners all over the city have galvanised and successfully managed to lobby against other proposals. Hopefully the same will happen in this case.

"Fortunately, it's not the end of the matter, as the decision will go to Scottish Ministers for decision as the Council has a vested interest in the scheme. I think that the Minister will be surprised by the volume of objections he receives"