Angry residents blast lack of consultation over 'unreasonable' Winter Wonderland at Glasgow Green

Residents living near Glasgow Green have claimed commercial events are limiting public access to the park, as they criticised a lack of consultation over the city’s “unreasonable” Winter Wonderland.

More than 85 people have signed a petition to Glasgow City Council which calls for “timely” talks with neighbours ahead of future events. It says residents feel “disregarded” and argues the Green should remain “primarily a recreational space”.

Councillors are set to decide whether action to address the issue is required at a meeting on Thursday. A report by council officials states engaging with “local communities potentially impacted by events to minimise disruption wherever possible is a priority”.

The petition, titled ‘Whose Glasgow Green’, was submitted in December. A member of Calton Community Council, the principal petitioner, will address councillors at the meeting.

“Glasgow Green is a cherished publicly owned space managed by the city council,” the petition states. It adds the Christmas wonderland was announced before any local consultation was held.

“We received no clear information about the type of event, which seems to be primarily a fairground. Moving it from George Square in the city centre places it in an otherwise quiet residential area.

“We find the proposed duration (November into January) unreasonable, as well as 10 til 10 daily opening hours. We ask the council to reconsider and limit these arrangements to mitigate the noise and other disruption to the area.

“The Green is or should be primarily a recreational space for the people of Glasgow. However, events held in 2025 have already limited public access and disrupted movement in the area for extended periods of time while events are set up and dismantled.”

The petition calls for advanced consultation before future events, as residents currently “fail to see any balance between the adverse effects of events and any benefits to the local community”. There are 86 signatures.

A briefing note to councillors states the events sector “increases the economic value of tourism… allowing for investment into city amenities” and the council has a “robust community engagement process for major events held in parks”.

“Glasgow Green is one of the few areas of the city able to host major events and as such, the impact on the community can be significant at specific times throughout the year,” the note adds.

“There is an almost static number of events held on the Green year on year and although a number of them are commercial and have a longer duration, the majority of events are community and charity based.”

Figures show there were 74 events in 2025 and 2023, with 79 in 2024. Commercial events ran for around 13 weeks in 2025, up from approximately seven weeks in 2023 and 2024.

On the Winter Wonderland event, the note states: “There are occasions, unfortunately, where procurement timescales shorten both the engagement window and the delivery window for operators.

“Whilst not ideal, there was advanced engagement with the community representatives but this took place after the event was announced.

“Due to George Square closure, Glasgow City Council trialled the use of the Green for part of the city’s Christmas activity and this is contracted to take place both in 2025 and 2026.

“Officers will co-ordinate both a debrief organised with the community and engagement in advance of the 2026 activity to ensure any issues of concern are discussed and resolved in advance of the event taking place.”

It adds the park was “fully accessible throughout its [the event’s] delivery with elements of restrictions during the build and de-rig due to safety reasons”.