Questions asked about damage to Bellahouston Park following Summer Sessions

Shocking photographs taken by the Evening Times show waterlogging, tyre tracks and the churned up hay within closed off areas of Bellahouston with little or no grass remaining.

More than three weeks after the end of Glasgow's Summer Sessions, which saw around 70,000 people flock to the park for three weekend shows during August, damage remains visible and parts of the park are still shut off to the public.

Combined with heavy rain and the footfall of tens of thousands in a short space of time, 'significant' sums may now be needed to restore the greenspace.

Ahead of and during The Cure's show at Bellahouston, organisers were forced to work with council parks staff to remove significant surface water from the stage area.

For busy events such as Summer Sessions, promoters like DF Concerts, who put on TRNSMT and the August music nights at Bellahouston, a bond is paid to cover some financial costs.

However, some are calling for greater transparency in how decisions on events such as this are taken, with weeks, if not months, of recovery ahead before Bellahouston is returned to its previous state.

While he is not against concerts in parks like Summer Sessions, local Green councillor Jon Molyneux has said they can be 'problematic', with a considerable effect felt by the local area.

He added: "Bellahouston Park will need significant sums spent on it for it to get back to condition.

"The promoter will put down a bond, but there is also a cost to people who use the park. With that investment, you could have better drainage and infrastructure.

"I'm not against having these events, there are benefits, but there are also costs, with a significant impact on the park.

"I think there's been a need to talk about this for a while. But the state Bellahouston Park has been left in has brought this into sharp focus."

Last week, at a full meeting of Glasgow City Council, a motion passed highlighting the risks to Glasgow's public parks, in part down to the worsening effects of climate change and the use of these spaces for events with large crowds.

This also noted the difficulties facing local residents and communities in having a say on how these commercial events are run, and the potential problems this can cause for people living nearby.

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The council's chief executive has now been instructed by councillors to review the process for consenting to major events in public parks in line with community concerns, the climate emergency and potential damage to infrastructure, with a response expected within the next six months.

However, one outdoor concert, Green Day's Hella Mega Tour, is in the calendar already, leading to questions over whether any measures can be put in place to prevent a repeat of this year's damage.

Councillor Molyneux added: "Taking into consideration the effects of climate change, this weather is not going to be a one off.

"Having big events like this can be really problematic.

"Our amendment instructed a review looking at the concerns of residents, as well as making the cost and benefits more transparent.

"There is a mandate to look at and do something about this. Not necessarily stop them from happening, but to make sure the impacts are better understood and the community have more of an input.

"There are opportunities, but I don't think it is as easy as it could be.

"But decisions taken by the council about concerts are taken without real consultation.

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"Next year's big gig has already been announced, before all the details are all worked through.

"This creates a sense that it is a fait accompli.

"The time is right to take a really good look at this.

"Bellahouston Park will need significant sums spent on it for it to get back in condition."

Away from the council chamber, the state of Bellahouston Park has also been discussed by local community groups.

The Evening Times approached Craigton Community Council, whose area covers the park, following discussions on the subject at a meeting on Thursday, but the group were unable to comment.

Online, campaigners from Friends of Bellahouston Park have been communicating updates on damage recovery, with a number of concerned residents voicing their own displeasure over the park's treatment.

Activists say they are 'deeply concerned about the state of the park after the recent Summer Sessions concerts'.

Communication from the council to the group shows that a 'long-term plan' is currently being identified to help the park recover, while promoters for 2020's headline show have said "it is not anticipated that this new concert will impact the reparation work on this site".

Following the event, organisers have said weather delayed recovery, but this is now underway.

However, when asked DF Concerts could not say what measures, if any, would be put in place to ensure such damage is not repeated at the events already planned for summer 2020.

A DF Concerts spokesperson added: “It's no surprise that due to the extreme rainfall that we experienced ahead of Glasgow Summer Sessions and with 70,000 music fans enjoying the music in the first weekend, there was an expected impact on the ground conditions at Bellahouston Park.

"An amazing collaborative effort between the event organisers and Glasgow City Council ensured that the event went ahead.

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"As is the case with all large outdoor events, there is always a risk of impact on the ground from the weather, be it from sun or rain, which is why there are process in place to mitigate the impact but also to recover the ground as quickly as possible.

"As this year it was unprecedented wet weather impact, work could not go ahead as quickly as planned to restore the park but this work is now ongoing.”

While work is now underway, Glasgow City Council could not provide a timescale as to when work will be complete.

However, the Evening Times understands the aim is to complete work during the "growing season" in the coming months.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman added: “Unfortunately, heavy rainfall and heavy footfall during the recent concerts have resulted in poor ground conditions in a section of the park.

“Work to restore this section of park has begun in places and we are aiming to implement a far more substantial programme of ground work very shortly

“Bellahouston Park is one of Glasgow’s premier parks and we want to have this area of the park back in good order as soon as possible.”