GLASGOW BUSINESS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive
chiefexecutive@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Chamber backs Council’s plans for George Square
George Square is the premier public space in Glasgow city centre. For many years, it has been serviceable but relatively unimpressive. It simply doesn’t stand out as a space of genuine quality and definitely needs investment. However, there is now an opportunity, especially
with the Commonwealth Games of 2014 fast approaching, to turn it into a plaza of genuine international quality. In recent times there has been real improvement in the public realm in Glasgow city centre, especially in and around Buchanan Street and in the Merchant City, and now we welcome the Council’s decision to refurbish the Square.
Stuart Patrick
“George Square is an important part of the strategy for long-term investment in the city centre”
EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT CONSULTANT Selina Hales ~ 0141 204 8338
selina.hales@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
EVENTS AND ONLINE CO-ORDINATOR Simon Gwynn ~ 0141 204 8319
simon.gwynn@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
MEMBER CO-ORDINATOR Kirsten Rice ~ 0141 204 8331
kirsten.rice@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
CERTIFICATION ASSISTANT Yasmin Vasconcelos ~ 0141 204 8365
yasmin.vasconcelos@glasgowchamberof
commerce.com
George Square is an important part of the
strategy for long-term investment in the city centre, which, in turn, is the engine room of Glasgow’s economy. We must go on reinventing and
improving the city centre for it to remain relevant, modern and attractive for investment – and George Square, as our most important civic space, therefore deserves special attention. Clearly, there’s quite a variety of
views about how the Square should look. There is a common desire to have it as a pleasant place for folks to linger on a sunny day. It is our primary civic space and should always remain so. George Square can also be a driver of business.
We want it to attract visitors into the city, supporting good-quality events like the excellent spectacle that is Glasgow’s International Piping Festival, Piping Live! We should know here at the Chamber – we get a full week of the world’s best piping straight through our office windows! The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, the Olympic Torch Relay and the Glasgow Art Fair are all good
Glasgow Business . 5
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Project to help employment prospects of ex-offenders 6
examples of the type of event that adds life and quality to Glasgow’s city centre. George Square should also be presented as a
world-class public space with high-quality materials and some permanent attractions – perhaps sensitively including contemporary art that reflects Glasgow’s prominence in that field in recent years. It should undoubtedly be fringed where possible by cafes and restaurants, extending its use as a safe, busy, communal space well into the evening. As a Chamber we are engaging with the
business community on what a good square might look like. Clearly, there is going to be an architectural
design competition, and there has already been a fair degree of public discussion about that. The Chamber is enthusiastically supporting the
Council’s intentions to improve the quality of the Square. If there is one issue we’ll be keeping an eye on, though, it’s the possible impact of the plans on the transport network of the city centre. We’ve been reassured that the Council will be carrying out a substantial piece of work to review the management of traffic flows through the city centre, including the impact of any closure to traffic in George Square itself. You can be assured that
taking into account the views of the retail, commercial property and night-time business, we don’t want to go down the path of driving the private
car out of the city centre. When it comes to investing in Glasgow’s premier
civic space, and providing at the same time a platform for international-quality events that will add to the vitality of the city and drive people into the city centre, then we are all up for it.
GET IN TOUCH...
We’re keen to help business engage in the debate, so let us know what you think.
CERTIFICATION ASSISTANT Lorraine Galbraith ~ 0141 204 8365
lorraine.galbraith@glasgowchamberof
commerce.com
PROJECTS ADMINISTRATOR Sarah Bird ~ 0141 204 8339
sarah.bird@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
FINANCE ASSISTANT Liz Mason ~ 0141 204 8329
liz.mason@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
RECEPTIONIST Dawn Chalmers ~ 0141 204 2121
dawn.chalmers@
glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
30 George Square, Glasgow G2 1EQ Tel: 0141 204 2121 Fax: 0141 221 2336
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com chamber@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Glasgow Business is published bi-monthly for Glasgow Chamber of Commerce by Connect Communications, Studio 2001, Mile End, Seedhill Road, Paisley PA1 1JS.
ADVERTISING SALES Gina Ireland ~ 0141 204 2042
info@contactpublicity.co.uk
PRODUCTION Gary Atkinson ~ 0141 560 3024
gary@connectcommunications.co.uk
The views contained within Glasgow Business do not necessarily reflect those of Glasgow Chamber. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained in this publication, the publishers and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce can accept no responsibility for the claims made by contributors in either advertising or editorial content.
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