GLASGOW has almost doubled the amount of cash it rakes in from hiring out the city's public parks and squares in the last five years.

The council – increasingly under fire for commercialising public spaces – made just under £200,000 in 2012-13.

That is up from nearly £115,000 back in 2008-2009 as the local authority focuses strongly on events to drive tourism and prop up the city's struggling retail sector.

City parks and public precincts, including George Square, host scores of commercial events every year as well as acting as outdoor billboards to sell everything from the British Army to soft drinks and mobile phones.

They also provide real-life stages for TV shows and films, such as World War Z, the Brad Pitt movie shot in Glasgow last year.

Council bosses stress the money they make on hiring out parks, precincts and squares partly goes to cover their own costs, such as picking up litter left by crowds.

And they passionately believe such events raise the profile of Glasgow and draw in tourists rather than fill council coffers.

A spokesman said: "Events taking place in Glasgow's parks contribute to the council's budget and enable us to further invest in the services we offer.

"These events also benefit the city's economy by helping to drive footfall to city hotels, shops, restaurants and bars."

The city famously removed flower beds from George Square in the late 1990s, partly to enable it to host events. Earlier this year it unveiled plans to transform the square again at a cost of £15m. However, it dropped all six proposed designs for the city's public face after a public outcry.

The latest plans, to be put in place in time for the Commonwealth Games, will see the two missing flower beds restored to the square.

However, figures obtained under Freedom of Information requests show income from hiring out George Square fell last year.

The total was just £17,420, not including clear-up costs to the council, in 2012-13. That compares with nearly £40,000 in 2011-12 and just under £28,000 in 2008-2009.

The council this month approved moves that should boost income, including introducing charges for its arm's-length external organisations, or Aleos, which currently use parks and squares for free.

david.leask@eveningtimes.co.uk

By DAVID LEASK Investigations Reporter