This: 1000% it is an absolute disgrace that it has been allowed to stand ruined and useless for so long. The actual sums of money in terms of the UK budget (if not the Scottish one) are trivial. Less than the cost of 1km of H2S.
Really interesting piece Jackie. I would dearly love to see The Mack rebuilt as would so many with a connection to it. It’s mired in stasis now - a Bleak House in so many ways. I’d argue that Notre Dame is a very different kettle of poissons. It’s is a highly visible public building for a start - a status symbol visited by millions. Macron knew what he was doing when he pledged to rebuild it.
Ask the average punter in Glasgow if they were ever in the Mack and the answer is generally no. Yes, it’s important but the political will isn’t there.
So sad. And I speak as someone who has been inside it after both fires.
It’s the most important 20th century building in Britain! When it’s restored it should be more open to people going inside it. We need to be more confident about our heritage. No point in going backs- the ventilation ducts were obviously part of the problem and they can be fixed.
Glasgow. needs it desperately. The sense of drift and failure is bad in those peripheral areas. Rebuilding the Mack says - we have pride in our city and our achievements. I think you’re wrong about people in Glasgow not valuing it - but I think they feel a bit hopeless about the situation. Rebuilding it as a national effort offers jobs - the predicted total for sickness benefits is to rise to £4.5 billion a year - surely it would be better to direct some money to restoration work which allows people to learn valuable skills? I think we all need to start visualising the rebuild happening and ask our political leaders to show some smeddum.
I didn’t say they didn’t value it. Anecdotally, so many people I know - outside the cultural sphere - had never been inside it. People are still shocked at what happened but (largely - unless they have a personal connection to it) don’t feel the same way about the Mack as the world felt about Notre Dame. Glasgow is a sad sight of a city centre, especially up that end of Sauchiehall Street. So many people invested time and money and effort in the first rebuild. The carelessness that allowed a second fire to happen burnt the rebuild dream to a crisp.
Political will and capital only seems to be channeled to fuel separatism, not the means to unite us. A searing and damning indictment on a succession of hand wringers, whose altar seems to be less civic minded than mere Art..
This: 1000% it is an absolute disgrace that it has been allowed to stand ruined and useless for so long. The actual sums of money in terms of the UK budget (if not the Scottish one) are trivial. Less than the cost of 1km of H2S.
Thanks for writing this.
Yes if the will is there the money could be found
Really interesting piece Jackie. I would dearly love to see The Mack rebuilt as would so many with a connection to it. It’s mired in stasis now - a Bleak House in so many ways. I’d argue that Notre Dame is a very different kettle of poissons. It’s is a highly visible public building for a start - a status symbol visited by millions. Macron knew what he was doing when he pledged to rebuild it.
Ask the average punter in Glasgow if they were ever in the Mack and the answer is generally no. Yes, it’s important but the political will isn’t there.
So sad. And I speak as someone who has been inside it after both fires.
It’s the most important 20th century building in Britain! When it’s restored it should be more open to people going inside it. We need to be more confident about our heritage. No point in going backs- the ventilation ducts were obviously part of the problem and they can be fixed.
Glasgow. needs it desperately. The sense of drift and failure is bad in those peripheral areas. Rebuilding the Mack says - we have pride in our city and our achievements. I think you’re wrong about people in Glasgow not valuing it - but I think they feel a bit hopeless about the situation. Rebuilding it as a national effort offers jobs - the predicted total for sickness benefits is to rise to £4.5 billion a year - surely it would be better to direct some money to restoration work which allows people to learn valuable skills? I think we all need to start visualising the rebuild happening and ask our political leaders to show some smeddum.
I didn’t say they didn’t value it. Anecdotally, so many people I know - outside the cultural sphere - had never been inside it. People are still shocked at what happened but (largely - unless they have a personal connection to it) don’t feel the same way about the Mack as the world felt about Notre Dame. Glasgow is a sad sight of a city centre, especially up that end of Sauchiehall Street. So many people invested time and money and effort in the first rebuild. The carelessness that allowed a second fire to happen burnt the rebuild dream to a crisp.
Political will and capital only seems to be channeled to fuel separatism, not the means to unite us. A searing and damning indictment on a succession of hand wringers, whose altar seems to be less civic minded than mere Art..
Outstanding piece, thank you.
Thanks
The rot seems to run deep in poor old Scotland.