AN iconic Glasgow building which was facing permanent closure has been saved after councillors got behind a campaign by the Scottish Greens.
The Queen's Park Glasshouse has been a treasured part of the city's southside community for generations but was facing closure after the council said its running costs were unsustainable.
However, councillors gave the green light to a Scottish Green proposal on Thursday which will save the landmark.
It commits the council to a transparent public consultation, a report within six months, publication of feasibility work and the identification of funding to restore the Glasshouse and its dome.
It also guarantees continued community engagement, protects public access and calls for net-zero improvements to reduce emissions and long-term heating costs.
The amendment was put forward by councillor Holly Bruce who said: "This is an important victory for the campaigners who refused to let this much-loved building be abandoned.
“The Glasshouse is a really special place for people across the southside. Generations of families have created memories, visited, learned and spent time together there. It deserves the investment and imagination to give it a long-term future for more generations to come.
“My amendment means we now have a clear timetable, a commitment to public consultation and a requirement to explore the funding needed to restore the Glasshouse and its iconic dome.
“These commitments must now be delivered and I will continue working with campaigners and the wider community to ensure the Glasshouse remains an open, accessible and thriving public space for everyone to enjoy.”
More than 12,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Glasshouse to remain open.
It was built in 1895 and was initially used for plant cultivation. In recent years, the building was home to a children’s soft play area, exotic plants, a fish pond, reptiles, insects and birds.
At the end of June, the local authority stated that the historic Southside landmark had been given a reprieve from closure after “positive engagement” with local residents, campaigners, and council officers.
It had been set to shut in August as part of a cost-cutting measure, agreed in 2023, as the council attempts to plug a near-£50 million gap in its budget.
At present, the areas that remain open include the foyer and toilets. It is understood that the koi carp are still in the pond, but that all other animals were previously rehomed.
The Save the Queen’s Park Glasshouse campaign says it wants the council to commit to keeping the building as a "publicly owned, publicly managed, and freely accessible community asset".
