GLASGOW Life has been accused of hypocrisy after it rejected a request for help from indigenous visitors to the city during COP26.

The Minga Indigena delegation is coming to Glasgow for the climate summit and asked to use Pollokshields Community Centre for basic facilities such as toilets.

But the arm's-length council body said no due to concerns about safety and said it was not a "feasible" request.

Since the ask was made, it has been announced that Glasgow Life's major tourist attractions will close during COP26.

Local councillor Jon Molyneux said the decision was "shameful" and claimed it goes against a pledge from councillors to use city facilities for delegations from the global south.

Jon said: “I wrote to the council and Glasgow Life on September 23 asking for the temporary reopening of Pollokshields Community Centre to support the Minga Indigena delegation, who are involved in events at the Bowling Green community venue directly opposite.

“Glasgow Life responded to me last Friday advising that even the most basic request - to access toilet facilities - could not be supported.

“Now we’re being told that their flagship venues, including Kelvingrove Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art, are being closed to the public for the whole COP26 fortnight.

"If it transpires that’s for entertaining global elites, while indigenous guests are being denied basic sleeping accommodation, somewhere to wash or to prepare their own meals, then that’s shameful."

Minga Indigena is a group representing indigenous communities from various countries, such as the Andes mountains in Peru, Alaska and the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

The group has attended COPs for many years and will be in Glasgow for November's summit, dubbed the most important meeting in living history.

It was hoped they would be able to use Pollokshields Community Centre, which is one of several Glasgow Life venues that closed due to the pandemic and has not reopened.

The Glasgow Times contacted Glasgow Life for comment but was referred to the city council.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "Unfortunately, the proposal is not feasible at such short notice.

"The building is neither designed, insured or safety assessed to provide accommodation – and, with staff currently focused on operational venues, it would be costly and extremely difficult for Glasgow Life to prepare it in time; with no guarantee that it could actually be used."

A letter from Glasgow Life CEO Bridget McConnell to Jon said that "the full costs of opening the venue, even on a temporary basis would need to be found by Glasgow City Council or the organisation using the building."

She added: "Re-opening part of the venue, even on a temporary basis requires a range of statutory maintenance tests to be put in place and we are reliant of contractors being available to undertake these.

"In addition our staffing is being prioritised to support venues hosting official COP26 activity and maintain business as usual in the venues we have opened across the city."

But Jon is calling for an urgent rethink before the delegation arrives at the end of October.

He added: “In April, councillors unanimously agreed that we should use council resources to support indigenous and global south delegates to COP26, so this lack of effort directly contravenes that decision.

“I’m asking the council and Glasgow Life for an urgent rethink.

"It’s not too late for them to sit down with those coordinating the Minga Indigena delegation to work out how they can help.”

The group is still looking for accommodation. Anyone who can help should email: mingaindigenaorg@gmail.com