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Plan to demolish Glasgow tower blocks in opening ceremony scrapped Plan to demolish Glasgow tower blocks in opening ceremony scrapped
(35 minutes later)
Plans to demolish distinctive tower blocks as part of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony have been scrapped.Plans to demolish distinctive tower blocks as part of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony have been scrapped.
Glasgow 2014 chiefs had intended to blow down five of the six remaining 1960s Red Road flats at the 23 July event, with footage beamed into the Celtic Park ceremony, to an estimated global TV audience of more than a billion people.Glasgow 2014 chiefs had intended to blow down five of the six remaining 1960s Red Road flats at the 23 July event, with footage beamed into the Celtic Park ceremony, to an estimated global TV audience of more than a billion people.
Organisers had said the plan, unveiled on 3 April, would commemorate an important part of the city's social history.Organisers had said the plan, unveiled on 3 April, would commemorate an important part of the city's social history.
But it attracted fierce opposition from critics who said it was insensitive to former residents and to the asylum seekers who occupy the sixth block. An online petition calling for the plans to be dropped attracted thousands of signatures.But it attracted fierce opposition from critics who said it was insensitive to former residents and to the asylum seekers who occupy the sixth block. An online petition calling for the plans to be dropped attracted thousands of signatures.
In a statement, the Glasgow 2014 chief executive, David Grevemberg, said: "The demolition of Red Road will now not feature as part of the opening ceremony."In a statement, the Glasgow 2014 chief executive, David Grevemberg, said: "The demolition of Red Road will now not feature as part of the opening ceremony."
Grevemberg said the decision was taken after opinions were expressed that "change the safety and security context".Grevemberg said the decision was taken after opinions were expressed that "change the safety and security context".
While he did not give details, recent reports had suggested that families living near the demolition site were vowing not to leave the blast zone in protest at the proposals.While he did not give details, recent reports had suggested that families living near the demolition site were vowing not to leave the blast zone in protest at the proposals.
The chief executive said safety was the authorities' main priority. "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," he said.The chief executive said safety was the authorities' main priority. "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," he said.
"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 [were] safe to do so. Over the past few days it has become clear that opinions have been expressed [that] change the safety and security context."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 [were] safe to do so. Over the past few days it has become clear that opinions have been expressed [that] change the safety and security context.
"Glasgow 2014, games partners and key stakeholders, including Police Scotland and Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), are not prepared to allow what was proposed [as] a positive act of commemoration to create risk for all concerned, including the communities of north-east Glasgow.""Glasgow 2014, games partners and key stakeholders, including Police Scotland and Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), are not prepared to allow what was proposed [as] a positive act of commemoration to create risk for all concerned, including the communities of north-east Glasgow."
He said the demolition of the Red Road blocks – originally planned to take until 2017 –was a matter for the GHA and will take place as part of their regeneration programme. "It remains our intention to dedicate an element within the ceremony to telling the story of Glasgow's social history and regeneration.He said the demolition of the Red Road blocks – originally planned to take until 2017 –was a matter for the GHA and will take place as part of their regeneration programme. "It remains our intention to dedicate an element within the ceremony to telling the story of Glasgow's social history and regeneration.
"Tomorrow marks 100 days until the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. We will unveil the Glasgow 2014 medals, the greatest prize for athletes of the Commonwealth. This is a day of excitement and anticipation for each one of the 4,500 athletes who will come to Glasgow in 12 weeks to compete for gold and glory.""Tomorrow marks 100 days until the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. We will unveil the Glasgow 2014 medals, the greatest prize for athletes of the Commonwealth. This is a day of excitement and anticipation for each one of the 4,500 athletes who will come to Glasgow in 12 weeks to compete for gold and glory."
When they were built, between 1964 and 1969, the Red Road flats were the highest in Europe at 89 metres (292ft). Six of the original eight tower blocks remain after two earlier demolitions. They were designed to hold 4,700 people but latterly far fewer lived there, after decades of decline.
Their collective demolition was to have lasted just 15 seconds, in an event described as the biggest of its kind ever seen in Europe. The change of plan has taken place three days after Mr Grevemberg publicly defended the idea in a letter to two Scottish newspapers.
The area's Labour MSP, Patricia Ferguson, who grew up in the Red Road flats, voiced relief in the wake of the decision. "It was becoming increasingly clear that it would be extremely difficult to ensure that the proposal could go forward in a way that would guarantee the safety of my constituents," she said.
The Scottish Conservatives said the move was "a victory for common sense" and the Commonwealth Games' minister, Shona Robison of the Scottish Nationalists, said she supported the decision to withdraw the plans.
Deputy chief constable Steve Allen, the Games' security director, said: "Police Scotland's support for this element of the Games was based upon an environment in which the plan had widespread public support. Since that announcement, it became clear that the plan generated a range of strong opinions, which changed the safety and security context.
"I asked the chairman of the board to reconsider [the] decision in order to take account of the resources and scale of the operation that would now be required, and one which would be out of proportion to the friendly atmosphere sought by the board for the Commonwealth Games."
A GHA spokesman said: "As we have stated all along, public safety is our absolute priority. The demolitions will be rescheduled and we will continue to liaise and take the advice of the police and our demolition contractor."