Botanic Gardens Railway Station Proposed Re-Build

RandomFactor · 14th June 2007, 5:50pm

Quote:

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?

Exit_W0unds · 14th June 2007, 5:55pm

Can't stand Stefan. If you get a chance to meet him you rapidly find out he's a tosser, or if he can't be bothered speaking to the little people then he usually paps his (personal assistant) sister in your direction.

Eugh. Yet more of Glasgow being gobbled up by the git.

RandomFactor · 14th June 2007, 6:09pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Taylor, head of the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau

"These plans are just the ticket for Glasgow."

Do you see what he did there? Bet he's a right hoot.

Tosser.

XMachina · 14th June 2007, 6:33pm

I consider the occasion where I spat on him a gift from AN. Hopefully he'll be in jail before he wrecks the botanics like he destroyed ashton lane

Semprini · 14th June 2007, 6:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomFactor

Do you see what he did there?

Killed comedy.

Bunnylingus · 14th June 2007, 6:51pm

Well, I reckon it could be good, it IS a good idea..

Is there fuck all anyone can do about it, out of interest? Like, would a public outcry do anything or is it doomed already?

cookie · 14th June 2007, 6:54pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomFactor

Linky

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?

Ditto. The council are mugs, £5k rent a year is buttons for that site. I'd be very interested to see the plans for this as the botanics is a lovely bit of peace in the middle of the city and I can't see many Wendy's (myself included) being happy at the prospect of that wanker building a nightclub, restaurant and conference centre in it

I do think that it would be nice for the old station to be restored and used as a cafe or for the miniature railway. The words nightclub and conference centre leave a very bitter taste in my mouth tho.

cookie · 14th June 2007, 7:01pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunnylingus

Well, I reckon it could be good, it IS a good idea..

Is there fuck all anyone can do about it, out of interest? Like, would a public outcry do anything or is it doomed already?

It wouldn't surprise me if the Friends of Glasgow West and the various conservation groups got a petition together against it. That doesn't guarentee the councillors will listen to the people living here instead of lining their pockets with King's cash...

nevali · 14th June 2007, 7:19pm

99-year lease? Fucksake.

Dec · 14th June 2007, 7:44pm

A rich guy who's a dick? Fucking hell, that's a new one.

pANDAS Radio · 14th June 2007, 8:56pm

Well its the one place that he would have trouble burning to the ground.

*ba doom tsh*

RandomFactor · 14th June 2007, 9:26pm

Maybe he's come up with a cunning scheme to put up lots of scaffolding and then sell advertising space on it, whilst not actually doing any real building work.

That'd be a new trick for him.

Oh no, wait....

Hammer · 14th June 2007, 10:54pm

He can get to fuck. The Botanic as it is is nice now and it doesn't need a noisy bar/club sitting beside it.

lirazel · 15th June 2007, 9:48am

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie

It wouldn't surprise me if the Friends of Glasgow West and the various conservation groups got a petition together against it. That doesn't guarentee the councillors will listen to the people living here instead of lining their pockets with King's cash...

...and along those lines:

Quote:

Originally Posted by comment on the article linked to above

Concerned west end residents have set up a new website www.savethewestend.co.uk to canvas comment from residents regarding the possible intention of Glasgow City Council to turn the west end into a Glasgow Soho - this article further highlights our concerns

Dec · 15th June 2007, 12:26pm

Aye, it's bang out. That area of the west end has always been a tranquil, ungentrified, peaceful place. Byres Road in particular looks like a ghost town most of the time.