New Glasgow student flats could see giant Billy Connolly mural removed

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A giant mural of Sir Billy Connolly is to be removed to make way for student flats in his home city. The 50ft tribute portrait by artist John Byrne was unveiled in Glasgow’s Osborne Street in 2017 to mark the Big Yin’s 75th birthday, and has become a tourist attraction.

Connolly, 80, visited the site which “took his breath away”.However, developers’ plans for 272 flats would see the mural covered up.A spokesperson for Merchant City and ­Trongate Community Council, which lodged an objection, said: “Many of Glasgow’s murals, including those paying tribute to Billy Connolly, are major tourist attractions, admired not only by residents but ­visitors from around the world.“We have long campaigned for the finest of these artistic murals to be protected, including against being wholly or partially obscured by ­developers who fail to fully appreciate their significance.

We appeal to Glasgow City Council to join us on this task.”A spokesperson for ­developers Nova Living, part of the Ambassador Group, said: “We looked at ways to retain the mural, regrettably this will not be possible.

However, we are making a significant commitment to public art.”The local authority is due to decide in the coming weeks.A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “The roots of the City Centre Mural Trail lie back in 2008 – after the financial crash – with the temporary creation of murals on walls at or on sites that either had been stalled ­development spaces or had lain vacant for some time.“The purpose of these murals has always been to bring temporary life to these sites before they were ­redeveloped in the future.” Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.