Regenerating the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens remains a key priority for Glasgow City Council despite a major funding blow from the UK Government.
A recent report on regeneration projects taking place in the city highlighted the “damaging Levelling Up funding decisions”, made by Westminster officials, despite the scheme being designed to improve everyday life across the UK. It also confirmed that none of Glasgow’s bids were accepted.
During the environment and liveable neighbourhoods committee, SNP councillor Alex Kerr for the Baillieston ward hit out at the UK Government's fund branding it the "levelling down fund" for failing to take "into consideration social and economic challenges".
READ NEXT: Glasgow misses out on levelling up funding to restore People's Palace
He also asked officers about the impact this funding decision would have on the council's work to regenerate neighbourhoods across the city.
Council officers noted the "huge disappointment" among council workers who had developed the levelling up fund applications on short timescales and that the UK Government had been contacted and asked for a full feedback on the cities applications. It was also confirmed that Council Officers were at work to identify alternative sources of funding.
Commenting Councillor Kerr said: "The UK Government Levelling Up Fund should really be named the levelling down fund after passing over areas with significant need like Glasgow.
“The decision taken to knock back Glasgow's bids like the renewal of the People's Palace while awarding £19 million to the Prime Minister's affluent constituency will leave a sore taste in the mouths of Glaswegians across the city.”
The local authority is now working to find alternative funding methods and confirmed that regeneration of the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens remains a priority with £2.9 million already allocated for work on the museum.
Councillor Kerr continued: "Council officers are now hard at work attempting to identify alternative sources of funding due to the UK Government's decision to seemingly abandon its commitment to tackling inequality to ensure the process of regeneration across Glasgow will continue in spite of this.
“The UK Government has serious questions to answer about the process they have followed, which has come at a significant financial cost to Glasgow. The council leader Susan Aitken has raised this with the UK Government as a matter of urgency.
“I am sure councillors of all parties will be keen to read the UK Government's reasons for rejecting Glasgow's extremely detailed bids."
A City Council spokesman added: “We are very confident we submitted a high quality bid to the Levelling Up Fund for the People’s Palace and so we are very disappointed to have missed out on funding.
“Refurbishing the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens remains a priority for the council and the £2.9m of funding we have already allocated for work on the museum remains in place.
“We are looking again at our options and how we can access the funding that will ensure a sustainable future for the People’s Palace and Winter Gardens.”
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