Work on Garnethill bread oven on track after Art School fire

Garnethill residents have come together to put the final touches on the oven, which has been created out of materials from the Art School after it was damaged by the first fire.

The creation of the oven was put on hold after residents objected to the build on local green space in Garnethill Park at a ‘heated’ public meeting.

The decision was taken to move the structure to different part of the park, which is also currently being landscaped by Glasgow City Council.

Students from the Art School and Strathclyde University have been working under supervision to build the oven which will be used to good fresh bread and pizza.

Locals are now hopeful that it will bring the community back together after a turbulent few months in the wake of the second Art School fire.

Glasgow School of Art student Eleanora Jaroszynska decided to construct the oven in Garnethill Park after a series of successful pop-up events.

A crowdfunding page which raised more than £500 for the creation, claimed that the local community would be strengthened by its presence.

Materials for the structure have been donated from the Glasgow School of Art after it was damaged, including sandstone, metal reinforcement bar and wood.

Margaret Watt, co-founder of Friends of Garnethill Green Spaces, said all parties are now happy with the end result, at a different spot in the park.

She added: “Volunteer students and volunteers members of the community have been working on the oven since June but we had to take a break after the fire.

“People are happier with the location and understand more what we’re trying to do.

“I hope it will bring the community together.

“As soon as we’re done, we’ll have a big party in the park.

“We’re about three-quarters of the way there so expect to be finished by the end of next month.”

Bailie Christy Mearns, previously said she hoped that the bread oven would “be a positive asset to the community, in bringing people together regularly to prepare food.”