Pollok Park is up for debate

The Burrell Collection will close in autumn 2016 for a four-year refurbishment.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed in his autumn statement that the UK Government would provide £5 million towards the cost.

The mention prompted Stewart McDonald, MP for Glasgow South, to extend an invitation to George Osborne to meet southsiders.

In a debate following the statement, Mr McDonald said: “The Burrell Collection refurbishment is vital in pulling visitors to the southside of Glasgow, so I welcome the announcement of £5m worth of funding from the government.

“Will the chancellor go a little further and commit to meeting with me and local people who are keen to build up the southside as a tourist destination in Glasgow, so we can really raise its profile?”

The chancellor replied: “I am very happy to meet the honourable member...if there are sensible projects that we can fund in Glasgow, we will of course look at them.”

Pollok Park is also up for debate as Glasgow City Council holds a public consultation on the area’s conservation status.

The resulting study may result in changes to the existing conservation area boundary, as well as addressing any problems threatening the park’s “architectural and historic interest”.

Facebook group Pollok Park Fans agreed that the park needs some work, commenting: “Some of the stonework and original railings need urgent repairs!”

Southsiders, businesses and local groups are invited to have their say by December 18.