THE public is being asked for their views on the future of Glasgow's civic square.

The SNP has raised a motion calling on the local authority to consider the views of city dwellers before any decisions are made about George Square.

It has launched an online survey - www.surveymonkey.com/r/S8T9KG7 - which is being shared on the SNP Group's Facebook page and Twitter account.

Earlier this month, the Evening Times revealed an SNP vision to move money-spinning corporate events out of George Square to alternative sites in the city.

Opposition leader Susan Aitken said she would use compulsory purchase powers to secure land for the likes of ‘Piping Live’ and ‘Glasgow Loves Christmas’.

Councillor Aitken accused successive Labour leaders of “failure” over George Square and pledged to restore it to a place for people to “congregate, meet and relax”.

The idea is yet to be costed but it could pave the way for a long overdue facelift for the area after a controversial £15 million competition to redesign the square was abandoned by former council leader Gordon Matheson when the judging panel rejected his preferred option.

There were angry protests in the 1990s when trees were chopped down, grass and flower beds were dug up and the surface was eventually replaced with a lurid red tarmac which remained for more than a decade.

A spokesman for the SNP group, said: "This is an opportunity for Glasgow Labour to listen to what Glaswegians have to say about their main city square.

"George Square is for the citizens and we have given the people a chance to offer their ideas and thoughts on the future of the square and other potential sites.

“This is not about banning Christmas, it is not about vanity projects.

"This is about a genuine discussion with people, to hear what they have to say and act upon it.

"This Council approved a City Centre Strategy with a new event space as a priority action.

"Well, nearly two years into its life, we have not seen this priority actioned by the Council.

"That is why our survey will give citizens a chance to tell us what they really want from civic space in their city centre. We can all agree that consulting is good, but listening and acting on what we hear is better.”

Elaine McDougall, Executive Member for Transport, Enviroment and Sustainability, said: "They have decided there will be no celebration of Christmas in George Square and they did so without public consultation.

"That's wrong.

"People in Glasgow love Christmas and it would not be right to take it out of the square."

To take part in the survey go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/S8T9KG7