Organisers behind this year's Commonwealth Games have decided to cancel a plan to demolish the Red Road flats as part of the opening ceremony.
Five of the six remaining blocks were scheduled to be razed to the ground in July.
However, the proposal has been controversial with many arguing that the decision was "disrespectful" and "insensitive" to the families who had previously lived in the buildings.
An online petition was quickly launched by former Socialist MSP Carolyn Leckie to stop the demolition works. A total of 17,239 people signed the petition.
Last Friday (11 April), it was revealed that talks were to be held regarding the move, but yesterday it was revealed that the demolition will no longer go ahead.
It is understood the decision was taken due to issues expressed over "safety and security".
In a statement, David Grevemberg, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014, said: "The decision to feature the live demolition of five Red Road blocks within the Opening Ceremony was planned both as commemoration of a part of Glasgow's social history as well as a statement of the city's regeneration.
"We made it clear from the outset the absolute priority was safety and that this event would only happen during the Opening Ceremony if it was safe to do so.
"Over the past few days it has become clear that opinions have been expressed which change the safety and security context. Glasgow 2014, Games Partners and key stakeholders, including Police Scotland and Glasgow Housing Association, are not prepared to allow what was proposed to be a positive act of commemoration to create risk for all concerned, including the communities of north east Glasgow.
"The demolition of Red Road will now not feature as part of the Opening Ceremony. The demolition of the Red Road blocks is a matter for Glasgow Housing Association and will take place under a full safety regime as part of their on-going regeneration programme.
"However, it remains our intention to dedicate an element within the Ceremony to telling the story of Glasgow's social history and regeneration."
The Red Road tower blocks were built in the mid-1960s. The eight structures, each 30 storeys tall, housed more than 4,000 people. Two of the blocks have already been demolished, while the five blocks that were due to be brought down as part of the Games will now be rescheduled. A final block of flats will also be demolished at a later date.
(JP/IT)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
15/11/2024
A major milestone has been reached in the UK's transition to a greener energy future. Ofgem has approved the Eastern Green Link 1 project, a £2.5 billion investment that will see the installation of a 196km subsea electricity cable between Scotland and England. The project, a joint venture between ...
15/11/2024
Falkirk Council has secured a £100 million Growth Deal that is expected to create 1,660 jobs and generate £628 million in economic benefits for the area. The Deal, signed by the UK and Scottish Governments, will fund 11 projects, including: • A Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Centre • A Bioeconomy ...
15/11/2024
The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has raised concerns that the measures announced in the Autumn Budget could lead to the demise of the plant hire industry in Scotland. The association argues that the increased tax burden and other economic pressures will have a significant negative ...
15/11/2024
Maxi Construction has been awarded a £1.6 million contract by The City of Edinburgh Council to replace the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) roof at Pentland Primary School. The phased project will involve the removal of existing roof coverings and ceilings, the replacement of RAAC ...
15/11/2024
Clark Contracts has been awarded a contract to retrofit Scotland's National Retrofit Centre at BE-ST's Innovation Campus. The project aims to transform the building into a living laboratory, showcasing best practices in non-domestic retrofit. The ambitious project will involve a range of ...
15/11/2024
The Scottish Government has announced plans to bypass the villages of Springholm and Crocketford on the A75, a key route linking Scotland to Ireland. Jacobs UK Ltd has been awarded a contract to undertake initial design and assessment work for the bypass. The project is funded by the UK ...
15/11/2024
Dundee City Council has secured a £693,383 grant from the Scottish Government's Recycling Improvement Fund to upgrade its recycling facilities at Baldovie and Riverside. The funding will be used to purchase new waste management equipment, such as roll packers and compactors, to improve efficiency ...
15/11/2024
Homes for Good and Glasgow Credit Union have formed a partnership to address housing inequality in Glasgow and neighbouring areas. Glasgow Credit Union has provided a £2.4 million loan to Homes for Good, which will be used to purchase up to 35 homes for low-income individuals and families. The ...
15/11/2024
The historic Troon station has reopened following a £5m restoration project. The station was extensively damaged by a fire in 2021. Network Rail, in partnership with AmcoGiffen and CPMS, undertook the rebuild, which included the restoration of the station's iconic façade while incorporating modern ...
15/11/2024
BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is undertaking emergency works on the A828 between Ledaig and Benderloch to address a safety concern related to a deteriorating rock face. Recent monitoring has identified a fractured rock mass 60 metres above the road, requiring urgent attention. To ...