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Originally Posted by Evening Times / Herald

A GLASGOW entertainment guru is to be given the go-ahead to turn a historic railway station in a West End park into a multi-million pound visitor attraction.

Stefan King's ambitious plans for the Botanic Gardens include building a restaurant, conference centre and nightspot.

But he also wants to help attract more families with young children to the park with a miniature railway, new play area, a bandstand and toilets with baby changing facilities.

The millionaire tycoon, owner of the G1 Group, first revealed he wanted to transform the derelict railway station into a cafe last year.

But now it has emerged his plans for the park have got much bigger.

And councillors are set to grant him a 99-year lease on the site.

The project has already got tourist bosses excited.

Scott Taylor, head of the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "These plans are just the ticket for Glasgow.

"The city is famous throughout the world for its culture, heritage and architecture and to have this landmark station beautifully rebuilt, back to its former glory and being visited by a whole new generation of Glaswegians would be wonderful.

"The scheme would be a fantastic addition, not only to the Botanics and the West End, but to the entire city."

The James Miller-designed railway station - closed to commuters in 1939 and gutted by fire in 1970 - is considered by many to be one of the city's great lost buildings.

It will be restored to its former glory with the front of the building reproduced as it was in its heyday and the back given a modern glass frontage with access to underground platform areas.

As part of the plan G1 would pay the council £5000 a year in rent for the first five years, rising to £12,000.

A £100,000 miniature railway would include reproductions of the Caledonian Railway Company's engines, while the bandstand would cost £50,000.

A £120,000 children's play area would sit alongside the mini railway and a temporary pavilion costing £50,000 - which could be used in bad weather - would stage theatre events and music performances.

As reported in the Evening Times last summer, the bid was initially one of four received after Glasgow City Council asked for ideas on how to make the most of the space. However, only G1's scheme was taken forward.

Planning permission has not yet been sought by Mr King but the granting of the lease, which councillors are likely to agree tomorrow, would mark a significant step forward.

Why is it that despite thinking the basic idea is sound, the very mention of the name "Stefan King" fills me with nothing but dread?