COUNCIL bosses have moved to reassure the public that plants in the now-closed Winter Gardens are safe.
A row broke out after Labour MP Paul Sweeney raised concern for the gardens' exotic plants amid claims heating in the building had been switched off.
Council leader Susan Aitken then took to Twitter to accuse Mr Sweeney of lying about the situation.
The Glasgow North East MP had said to stop maintenance of the plants would be an "appalling act of civic vandalism".
Shocked to learn that all heating and active maintenance of the People's Palace Winter Gardens has been ended by Glasgow City Council this week. That means all the tropical plants contained inside will now die off. This is an appalling act of civic vandalism and must be stopped. pic.twitter.com/IFWzuchKog
— Paul Sweeney MP (@PaulJSweeney) January 3, 2019
However, a spokeswoman for the council said any plants of significant value will be moved to other glasshouses in the city.
Remaining plants, she said, will be maintained.
Mr Sweeney responded on social media: "Not according to a senior official in the parks department who I spoke to today.
"The heating has been turned down to a 'minimal level' and they said they won't be maintaining remaining plants as none are regarded as of 'horticultural value', but that is beside the point isn't it."
The MP said the council had not briefed its own councillors on plans for the attraction, and accused bosses of "a total lack of transparency".
📢PAUL SWEENEY MAKING THINGS UP KLAXON📢 The heating will stay on, the most important species have been moved to other glasshouses & the remainder will be maintained as required. Feel free to ignore the below & carry on with your day. https://t.co/HCjDCoWNjx
— Susan Aitken (@SusaninLangside) January 3, 2019
The future of the Winter Gardens remains unclear, with the cost of necessary repairs an estimated £5 to £7.5 million.
The council said the sealant used to secure thousands of windows in the Victorian glasshouse, where the museum's fire escapes are located, needs to be replaced.
A pane of glass fell into the public area of the building in 2016.
Opened in 1898, the Victorian glasshouse showcases Glasgow's history through a display of tropical flora from around the world, from spices to medicinal plants.
The council said in November a feasibility study to be put before councillors will explore options for the People's Palace, Winter Gardens and other historic glasshouse structures.
In a statement, Mr Sweeney said: "Drastic cuts to council funding by the Scottish Government have led us to this precipice, with some £1.5 billion lost from local authority budgets across Scotland since 2011.
"But if these reports prove true, this drastic step would be an appalling act of civic vandalism.
"The outcry over the planned indefinite closure of the People's Palace resulted in a welcome U-turn.
Clarity on inaccurate reports today about the Winter Gardens and a copy of the statement we've issued to the media. pic.twitter.com/hVCB8oEcOD
— Glasgow City Council (@GlasgowCC) January 3, 2019
"But it now appears that the relief we felt at that decision was misplaced and that only the museum building has been spared.
"Glaswegians will be appalled at the casual and underhand way this cherished part of our city's heritage is being lost."
But the Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “This is not true and we have not turned the heating off in the Winter Gardens and have no intentions of doing this.
“We want to reassure any concerned citizens that we have already moved the plants of significant horticultural value, as previously agreed, to our other glasshouses across the city and we will continue to maintain any remaining plants.”
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