A CALL has been made for the public to be consulted before any work is carried out on George Square.

Glasgow Civic Forum, which was set up last year, is made up of community councils, heritage bodies, building preservation trusts and residents' associations.

It aims to encourage discussion about planning, heritage and conservation issues in the city.

The group has been trying, without success, to meet city council bosses over plans for a revamp of George Square.

Earlier this year an international design competition was held for the area and a scheme by Glasgow-born John McAslan was announced as the winner.

But, within minutes, council leader Gordon Matheson said it would not go ahead because the public was not in favour of major changes to the civic heart of the city.

Instead, it is planned that a relatively minor upgrade will be carried out, which will involve replacing the unpopular red surface.

Laura Moodie, chairwoman of Glasgow Civic Forum, said: "The lack of proper consultation has been frustrating for many who care about Glasgow's built heritage.

"Despite Gordon Matheson's assertions that the most recent about turn is based on the will of the people, the public have still had no formal opportunity to express what they want and need from the Square.

"The Forum has been trying to engage the city council on the redevelopment plans since last November with little success – that is a missed opportunity for an open and constructive discussion with volunteers and professionals with expertise, enthusiasm and commitment."

Ms Moodie said the move to redevelop the Square was so rushed there were bound to be problems.

She added: "Without a proper brief or the background documents to support the council's aspiration and so little public consultation as to be negligible, the design competition was doomed to failure from the start.

"The Forum feels strongly that the Square should, firstly and primarily, work for the people of Glasgow and in the context of Glasgow, while being welcoming to visitors and suitable for appropriate events.

"Too often, when large events are being held, such as the Olympic torch relay and the Christmas lights switch-on, the streets around the Square become a maze of security fencing, making pedestrian and traffic movements difficult within this part of the city centre.

"When there is not something set up in the Square it looks desolate and lost.

"We feel the people who live and work in the city should have an opportunity to have their say on the future of the Square, through a full and proper consultation process.

"We believe for George Square to be the vibrant, civic, urban space the city council aspires to, this process of genuine, open and transparent dialogue must happen."

A council spokesman said: "We are exploring options to establish a design for the refurbished George Square.

"At this point, what is clear is the red Tarmac will be replaced before the 2014 Commonwealth Games."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk