STEWART PATERSON

Political Correspondent

THE Steps at Buchanan Galleries will not be demolished as part of any expansion deal the new leader of the council has said.

The Evening Times reported a breakthrough in talks allowing the centre to be extended after the owners suspended plans until after Queen Street station work.

The overall plan for the Galleries included new shops at the northeast corner to replace the current car park, links to the station and a new entrance atrium for the centre and concert hall to replace the steps.

However Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, reacted to the Evening Times story with an emphatic rejection of any demolition of the steps.

She said: “To be 100% clear the City Government will not implement any design that includes demolition of the Buchanan Street steps.”

She said the SNP “committed to protecting the steps in our manifesto and I have made very clear to officers we expect that to be honoured.”

The plans were controversial when first revealed sparking protests from people who wanted to keep the public space.

The steps, popular with shopper and workers at lunchtime in good weather have also been the site of many public meetings and protests over the years.

During the independence referendum in 2014 there were many rallies held at the steps.

Nicola Sturgeon addressed a yes rally in front of hundreds of supporters and Labour MPs from across Britain also came to the steps to promote a no vote.

The SNP council election manifesto stated it would “Protect cherished public spaces across the city.

“Starting in the city centre we will introduce a new public places protection policy to safeguard public space from harmful development - this includes the Buchanan Street steps.”

Talks have taken place between the council, Land securities, who own Buchanan Galleries, Network Rail, Transport Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust over the delay to the work at the centre.