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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Drew Sandelands

Glasgow Tramway and Mitchell Library hours to be cut as part of £7 million savings

Opening hours at Tramway and the Mitchell Library will be reduced as part of Glasgow Life’s £7 million savings plan.

The arms-length organisation, which runs culture and leisure services for Glasgow City Council, has confirmed changes will be introduced at arts venue Tramway from April 1.

A spokeswoman said opening hours at the Albert Drive building are currently being finalised, but it will be open Wednesday to Sunday and closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Read more: Lanarkshire prison officer who smuggled drugs into jail for convicted murderer locked up

Tramway has previously been open from midday until 5pm on a Tuesday. Cutting the hours is expected to save £73,000.

Opening hours at the Mitchell Library are also being finalised, but budget papers revealed they will be reduced from 60 hours to 54 hours per week. The move is estimated to save £115,000.

The spokeswoman said Glasgow Life has been asked to make savings of around £7.1 million this financial year.

She added: “The plans agreed ensure we will not close any venues.

“Wherever possible we identified ways of making savings by reducing, rather than losing, Glasgow Life programmes and activity.”

Glasgow City Council had to plug a £49 million funding shortfall when councillors met last week, with a 5 per cent council tax rise agreed to bring in an extra £12 million.

Business support services at the Mitchell Library will also be withdrawn to save £114,000. Options for an alternative operating model will be explored, budget papers stated.

Other cuts include removing a £33,167 contribution to a week-long, free to attend community programme at Kelvingrove Bandstand and a £374,000 reduction in museum display changes, temporary exhibitions and conservation.

Glasgow Life will also reduce museum learning and engagement activity to save £338,000 and £115,000 will be retained through “efficiencies” across community libraries.

A £475,000 saving is expected through reducing the delivery of sport and physical activity programmes and £95,000 will be raised by introducing hire charges at peak times at outdoor tennis venues.

Money will also be saved by not reopening health suites at nine Glasgow Club facilities across the city. Glasgow Club Gorbals, Tollcross, Bellahouston, Springburn, Maryhill, North Woodside, Easterhouse Pool, Drumchapel Pool and Castlemilk Pool are affected.

Councillor Thomas Kerr, the Conservative group leader, has launched a campaign urging a rethink of the decision to close the Tollcross health suite, which he said was a “devastating blow” to his constituents.

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