Hundreds turn out for Glasgow high rise demolitions

Hundreds of locals have turned out for the demolition of three high-rise Glasgow tower blocks.

The 26-storey towers on Wyndford Road in the Maryhill area of the city were pulled down by controlled explosion on Sunday.

An exclusion zone had been put in place ahead of the demolition, cordoning off the area around the site to ensure no-one was hurt, with residents being given breakfast and £100 Tesco vouchers at a nearby evacuation centre.

Originally built in the 1960s on the site of the former Glasgow City barracks, the towers were deemed not fit for habitation by owners Wheatley Homes and are due to be replaced with a development of 386 affordable homes.

While those observing the demolition cheered as the explosions rang out across the city, some residents had protested against the move, bringing in leading architect Malcolm Fraser to propose an option of retrofitting the buildings over concerns of the environmental impact.

After the buildings came down, a large smoke and dust cloud drifted west over the city, with nearby residents being told to close windows and keep pets indoors.

The new development will also include plans for the Maryhill Hub, a facility offering a multi-use hall, gym, cafe and computer access.

Frank McAfferty, Wheatley’s group director of repairs and assets said: “This is a new dawn for Wyndford, and our regeneration work will transform the area for generations to come.

“We’d like to thank everyone in Wyndford for their support and understanding during this important part of the community regeneration project.

“We will continue to work closely with the community to make sure their voices are at the heart of the transformation of the area.”