Robert Brown welcomes Botanics decision as a "victory for common sense"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Apr 2008

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown has today welcomed the decision by Glasgow City Council to abandon support for a nightclub and leisure development in the site of the West End's historic Botanic Gardens.

Mr. Brown has been critical of the plans to develop a nightclub in the Botanic Gardens from the outset, and has been involved in a number of demonstrations and petitions in the area.

Last year, he welcomed Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader, Nicol Stephen MSP, to the Botanic Gardens to join the campaign and meet with representatives from the area.

The threat to greenspace is a growing issue all over Scotland, particularly in cities such as Glasgow.

Mr. Brown said:

"I am delighted that the council has finally woken up and listened to the people of Glasgow.

"It's a victory for common sense - the idea of building a nightclub in the Botanic Gardens was a terrible one from the start.

"Sadly many council plans recently have shown a lack of proper local consultation and a lack of consideration for the needs of local people.

"Unfortunately, a pattern has emerged here - of bad planning decisions threatening greenspace across the city, like at the Botanics and the Go Ape decision in Pollok Park.

"The council needs to learn lessons from this. Local people will not sit back while their parks and greenspaces are threatened with totally unsuitable developments which damage the environment.

"Thankfully, in the case of the Botanics, people power has won the day.

"But the fight isn't over. It was great that so many people felt so strongly about the Botanic Gardens issue, but I know that the strength of feeling amongst Glaswegians is mirrored with the Go-Ape protest in the south side"

Ends