About Advertise with us Get our newsletter
Facebook Twitter Instagram

News

Save Whiteinch Library campaign invites people to protest

'This is so the authorities can see how upset the community is with the council’s decision'

People are being invited to place placards and mementoes outside a threatened library.

Whiteinch Library is on a list of buildings not opening when lockdown restrictions ease.

Glasgow Life has been hit by the pandemic and says it doesn’t have the money to reopen all its services.

It has now revealed plans to relocate the library service in Whiteinch to Scotstoun leisure centre a mile away.

Meanwhile a new public use will be sought for the building, according to the city council that owns it.

But local people maintain their historic library building is closing permanently - and closing without consultation.

In response, Save Whiteinch Library campaign is inviting members of the public to attach protest placards and mementos to the gates and railings of the now-closed building. 

Elizabeth Brown is spokesperson for Whiteinch Community Council.

She said: “The communities around the library are uniformly angry about Glasgow Council’s plan to relocate the library, to Scotstoun Stadium, which is a mile away and where it is not needed.  

“People want to show their unhappiness with Cllrs Susan Aitken and David McDonald as well as with the officials who have taken this decision - a decision which has been without consultation with the community or its elected representatives.

“We would obviously now prefer to protest in force at the City Chambers but the current covid safety regulations do not permit this.  

“Instead, we are asking people from Whiteinch, Scotstoun, Jordanhill, Thornwood and Broomhill to help us create a visible ‘protest spot’ on the library’s railings.  

'The communities around the library are uniformly angry'
'The communities around the library are uniformly angry'

“This is so the authorities can literally see how upset the community is with the council’s decision.”

The Save Whiteinch Library campaign is asking local people to create placards and mementos to attach to the library’s gates and railings.

People want to show their unhappiness with Cllrs Susan Aitken and David McDonald as well as with the officials who have taken this decision - a decision which has been without consultation with the community or its elected representatives

The campaign says people can be as creative as they wish in making items for display. 

“We would particularly welcome objects from local children, as children are a vital part of the library community and will suffer most from this arbitrary and continued closure,” said Elizabeth.

Glasgow Life released a list of 59 venues this week which it says are not scheduled to reopen.

The roll call of museums, community halls and sports venues has left many communities worried.

'Emergency'

Five libraries were on the list including Whiteinch and Maryhill.

Glasgow Life is a charity that operates the city's leisure and cultural services.

It says it's income fell off the cliff when gyms and venues closed.

The city council has stumped up £100 million in emergency funding to allow Glasgow Life to open more than 90 venues from next week.

Glasgow Life has been asked to comment on claims made by Save Whiteinch Library.

Share this story
Glasgow West End Today Loading