MORE than 2,000 people have backed a petition to save Glasgow's historic Pollok House from a year-long closure. 

 

The south side attraction is one of several in the city and many across the country affected following news that the National Trust of Scotland (NTS) planned a phased re-opening of its properties. 

Under current plans, Tenement House, in Garnethill, would also not re-open until 2021, with Holmwood House closed to the public for at least the next two years. 

READ MORE: Photographer was 'racially abused' at George Square protest

The NTS says the closures are as a result of the Scottish Government's road map out of lockdown and due to a drastic drop in income. 

And while plans are afoot to reopen some enclosed grounds and gardens this summer, the petition says that closure until 2021 will be “disastrous” for Pollok House in particular.

Started by Chloe Shields, it reads: “Pollok House is a hub that many in the local community depend on. By closing Pollok House, including the Edwardian Cafe, a team of devoted staff will lose their jobs and the people of Glasgow are deprived of an easily accessible heritage site and social space as lockdown eases.

“We hope bay showing how much people care about Pollok House, the National Trust for Scotland will reconsider and reopen in 2020.”

The petition points to the fact that the house - the eighth most visited NTS property in Scotland - provides the only cafe, toilets and shop facilities at Pollok Park.

At the time of writing, some 2,142 people have signed.

The NTS has, however, kept the door open for a possible return before the current schedule date. 

Simon Skinner, the Chief Executive of the NTS said: “Our charity is in trouble through no fault of our own – our only way back is to take action now and make some difficult choices.

“We are going to have to live within our means – not just at the moment while lockdown is still effectively in full force, but in the coming months too when such public sector support as there is dries up and the wider visitor economy remains badly wounded.   For the Trust to remain a going concern we have to decide which properties we can afford to open, either because they will generate sufficient visitor numbers to help with our recovery, or because we can find ways to re-open them that will be compliant with the new normal of public health restrictions.

“We have already missed the busiest season for some properties, and it simply isn’t viable to re-open them in the latter part of the year.  So, we will keep them closed until the ‘new’ season begins in Easter of 2021.  Having said that, in some cases where the historic building or centre is closed, it will still be possible to admit visitors to grounds and gardens.

“In the case of Pollok House, we haven’t yet confirmed when we can re-open the building and there is a possibility we can still do this in the current year.

READ MORE: National Trust Scotland eyes re-opening Pollok House

“I appreciate that many people will be disappointed if their favourite property is closed for a time longer.  These are not choices we wanted to make but we need to take them to ensure that the Trust gets through this period and emerges from the other side ready to do what it does best.

“We have approached the Scottish Government for financial support and, if this were forthcoming, it may allow us to open more properties more quickly.”