Going in the night - Fountainwell Place demolition

james73 · Going in the night - Fountainwell Place demolition

IT'S a regular sight in Las Vegas - but it will be a first for Glasgow, and Scotland,
when two multi-storeys are demolished in the middle of the night.

Glasgow Housing Association, which manages the blocks in Sighthill, claims
the unusual demolition time is down to the fact there is a main railway line
just a few metres away.

Because of this, explosive experts will have to raze the building when the
line is least busy - in the wee small hours.

But there is one possible benefit to the time - demolition by floodlight
should make the event spectacular for those who stay up to watch.

Cities such as entertainment capital Las Vegas commonly do showcase
blow downs in the dark.

It will take just a few seconds to reduce the blocks, 2-4 Fountainwell Place
and 16-18 Fountainwell Place, to tonnes of rubble.

Nearby residents will be evacuated overnight for safety reasons.

The main Glasgow to Edinburgh line runs through Sighthill, in the north of
the city and both GHA and Network Rail say they were keen to avoid any
disruption.

Passengers should not be affected by the demolition, due to take place
during the summer.

Jim Sneddon, GHA's executive director of regeneration, said: "This is a
complex and challenging demolition.

"However, a lot of preparation has been undertaken and we are very
grateful for the co- operation shown by our partners, including Network
Rail.

"The demolition will take place in the early hours to ensure services in and
out of Queen Street aren't disrupted."

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We are confident all appropriate
safety measures are in place to ensure that all trains can run safely on the
line."

The flats, which have been standing for more than 40 years, are being
brought down as part of GHA's ambitious regeneration plan.

Three other blocks are also due to be demolished, while five in neighbouring
Pinkston Drive are also expected to be razed. If given the go-ahead, a
masterplan will see the area transformed with 2000 new homes, shops and
businesses over the next decade.

Residents were moved out of the multi-storeys months ago, with some
offered GHA homes, and others moving to new homes run by other
housing associations.

Tower blocks at Shawbridge Street in Pollokshaws will come down a week
after the Fountainwell high-rises.

Three weeks ago, two Gorbals tower blocks, in Stirlingfauld Place, were
also demolished to make way for regeneration.

James H

Stuball

I like how they've failed to mention a date

james73

Stuball

So everyone will sh!t themselves with a huge explosion

james73

I've heard these are to come down on Sunday 13th July. Anyone heard
summat different?

James H

Stuball

Dunno.... but are any of us going to brave sighthill on a saturday night?

james73

Ok, this is this weekend. Anyone up for a bit of drinking and towerblock-demolition
watching? I have a few spots in mind, though it's likely to be at 2am...

James H

AlanM

http://www.flickr.com/groups/glasgowmeetups/discuss/72157605981050937/

Fjord

Count me in

wee minx

I'd love to but it's too difficult for me to get to

Fjord

james73

zolita1908

aye if i'm still here i'll go, is it Saturday night/Sunday morning?

james73

zolita1908

Wat time is it going on? Just thinking, will it still be dark??

james73

monument

I am out on saturday night, so i might oome along after.

AlanM

james73

AlanM

I'm still convinced the cemetery is the place to go, there's a bit of height too so we should get a pretty good view.

As for meeting up I was thinking Tesco would probably be the best bet.

Fjord

A copy of the exclusion zone would be handy in determining a suitable location. I was planning on driving the car into... Area X if the gates open

james73

AlanM

might be worth a trip round there in daylight to see where they're putting up the fencing. It should start to go up on Friday

james73

james73

Right, I'm gonnae head for the place I mentioned above as I'm convinced the
graveyard will be closed.

James H

Stuball

james73

Aye, I'm not bothered where we meet. It's a bit of a trek to get up there.

James H

james73

What about a pint in the Station Bar in Port Dundas Road? Always wanted to
go in there for a pint.

James H

Stuball

Fantastic

The full set HERE

But best viewed as SLIDESHOW

Xeno

cool pic

falseface

nice one Stu

Fjord

Stuball

The long exposures give it an errie effect

Fjord

Truth be known I'd have prefered that slick 'burst mode' your camera has.

Stuball

Swap you camera for the defender :p

Fjord

How about two centre forwards?

Stuball

james73

James H

wee minx

Excellent stuff guys...who nedes to go when you know members will bring back all the good viewing stuff

james73

Towers razed in overnight blasts

Five tower blocks have been razed to the ground in a series of dramatic
overnight demolitions.

Two 19-storey flats in Glasgow's Sighthill were brought down at 0230 BST
as part of a regeneration programme.

About 65kg of explosives were used to demolish the towers on
Fountainwell Place in just 10 seconds.

In Millarston, Paisley, three high rise flats were reduced to 3,800 tonnes
of rubble by a controlled explosion at 0600 BST on Sunday morning.

The Glasgow flats, at Fountainwell Place, were built in 1967 but have been
unoccupied since December 2007.

James H

monument

I can't seem to to upload anything to Flickr today

james73

It was playing up with me earlier - took 3 goes to upload that video.

James H

james73

Flats go boom in the night (Evening Times)

This was the moment something went boom' in the night . . . and two of
Glasgow's most unsightly tower blocks vanished from the cityscape in a
night-time first.

All together five tower blocks were razed to the ground in a series of
dramatic overnight demolitions. Two 19-storey flats in Glasgow's Sighthill
were brought down at 2.30am followed by three 15-storey blocks in
Millarston, Paisley around 5am.

Residents living near the Sighthill blasts were evacuated overnight for
safety.

The main Glasgow-Edinburgh rail line runs alongside the site and it was
decided to carry out the blow down when the line was least busy.

Jim Sneddon, GHA's executive director of regeneration, said: "Whilst GHA
is still working with our partners on how best to deliver the full regeneration
plans for the area, today's demolition is a clear sign that we are committed
to playing our part in changing the face of Glasgow and delivering social
housing which is fit for the 21st Century."

Three other blocks are also due to be demolished, while five in
neighbouring Pinkston Drive are also expected to be razed. If given the
go-ahead, a masterplan will see the area transformed with 2000 new
homes, shops and businesses over the next decade.

Residents were moved out of the multi-storeys months ago, with some
offered GHA homes, and others moving to new homes run by other
housing associations.

Tower blocks at Shawbridge Street in Pollokshaws will come down a week
after the Fountainwell high-rises.

James H

AlanM

Before:

During:

After:

AMcD

Great photos and videos!

james73

Boom town (Evening Times)

NOW you see them . . . now you don't. Hundreds of residents in Sighthill
cheered as two tower blocks were blown down in Scotland's first ever
night-time demolition.

At exactly 2.30am yesterday morning a loud bang ripped through the
north of the city and the 19-storey double blocks - 2-4 and 16-18
Fountainwell Court - were razed in 10 seconds.

The £1million operation -which needed 130kg of explosives - was carried
out by Glasgow Housing Association as part of their city-wide
regeneration programme.

Around 100 people in 70 nearby properties were evacuated for health and
safety reasons, with roads closed inside a 150m exclusion zone.

The demolition, which created 44,000 tonnes of rubble, was carried out in
the night to avoid disruption to the Glas-gow-Edinburgh railway line, which
is just metres away.

Around 500 residents turned out to witness the awesome sight - many of
whom had once lived in the flats. But few tears were shed as the buildings
fell, as most of those watching believed the demolition marks the beginning
of Sighthill's rebirth.

As she watched, community activist Margaret Thomson, who lived in one
of the blocks for 38 years, said: "I'm sad in a way because I brought my
family up in that house and I had fantastic neighbours.

"But Sighthill needs and deserves to be regenerated - we've been fighting
for it for years."

Neighbour Tina Suffredini, who lived there for 20 years, added: "I've got
lots of happy memories. They were once a great place to live.

"But times change and it's definitely time for them to come down."

Constructed in 1967 at a cost of £1.8m, each block contained 228 one
and two-bedroom homes. But as demand for the houses declined from
2000, the decision was taken by GHA, in consultation with locals, to
demolish them.

The flats have been unoccupied since December 2007, with most
residents either being re-housed nearby or elsewhere in north Glasgow.

Neighbouring blocks, 2-4 Fountainwell Terrace, 37-49 Fountainwell
Avenue and 6-8 Fountainwell Square - are earmarked to be razed next
year.

The clearance makes way for an ambitious programme of further
demolition and new build over the next 15-20 years, which will see new
homes, improved transport links and a new hub with shopping and
community facilities.

James H

Stuball

130kg? the BBC said 65kg

Alex Glass

Well done Stu, Fjord, James and Alan.

The photos and videos are fantastic. I wish I could have been there for this although it is maybe best to leave it to the experts.

james73

Fjord

Haha well spotted is that you taking a swig oot yer can @ the 11 seconds?

james73

monument

That video won't load for me

Finally got my pictures uploaded though and they are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/monument/sets/72157606167316294/

maximusmop · posted this in the shawbridge thread by mistake, sorry!

posted this in the incorrect thread today, here's my sighthill footage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRFgpJI7s68

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxQUjusthhU
enjoy

Alex Glass

Welcome to Urban Glasgow maxi

Maybe one of the mods will arrange to move your post if necessary.

Keep posting.

maximusmop

Alex Glass

The videos were great Maxi

Hope you enjoy this site.

maximusmop

james73

Story on this >> here <<.

Took this earlier today.

James H

Alex Glass

Well done Maxi

As usual a UG member is the first with the breaking news

maximusmop · first for news!!!

i live in the townhead multi's and my mum in the cowcaddens one, she called me and pardon the pun i hot-footed my way up there, glad no one was hurt and the fire was put out!

maximusmop · NEWS FLASH

NEWS FLAS, was up at the tower in sighthill that's being striped today and asked when it was coming down and was told ALL THREE REMAINING TOWER'S WILL BE DOWN BY XMAS THIS YEAR, here's a picture

maximusmop · Re: NEWS FLASH

lady v

yes - and they have removed all the windows except for those on the floors that will house the explosives - I THINK ITS GONNA BE DROPPED SOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!! YEAH!!! look out for the black bags going over the windows - thats when the explosives are in!!

Alex Glass

Took this photo from a great vantage point for when the demolition takes place.

Port Dundas Business Park

maximusmop

you will need a better view than that all 3 tower's in fountainwell tower that are still standing come down inone go so a wider shot will be needed!

Alex Glass

You mean these two as well

I think it will do.

It is a great vantage point.

maximusmop

Alex Glass

There is also a great view of these flats as well.

But as you say Maxi the cemetery is a good place as well.

Stuball

At least these ones wont be coming down in the night

Alex Glass

But it may be a bit cold

The view I had was completely warm and dry

maximusmop

febuary or march for the last three to go at fountainwell, the contractor told me they will all go at once and the one that is stripped will fall backward's as it cannot go left, right or forward's!

james73

Alex Glass

My photo was taken from the other side

Going in the night - Fountainwell Place demolition

posted this in the shawbridge thread by mistake, sorry!

first for news!!!

NEWS FLASH

Re: NEWS FLASH