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STV News
03-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Two men hit by falling masonry during demolition of derelict housing estate
Two men have been injured while working on the demolition of a derelict housing estate dubbed 'Scotland's Chernobyl'. Police were called to Clune Park in Inverclyde around 3pm on Friday after the men, aged 31 and 20, were struck by a piece of falling masonry. The pair were taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for treatment. The incident comes as the long-awaited demolition got underway at the site with a fire-damaged church the first building to be torn down. It is part of the first phase of demolition works, which will also see an old primary school building and an initial 138 properties across 15 tenement blocks razed to the ground. There are around 430 residential properties across 45 tenement blocks in total at Clune Park, most of which are or were privately-owned. Dangerous buildings notices were served following extensive investigations by council building standards officers and external surveyors. Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: 'While the former church, school and initial batch of residential properties are being demolished on safety grounds, this is a significant milestone nonetheless. 'Clune Park was once a thriving and desirable community but sadly most of the properties are now beyond repair for a variety of reasons. 'However, Clune Park is in a great location with excellent transport links and can rise from the ashes and become a good place to live once again. 'The demolition works are the first key step towards achieving that goal of regenerating Clune Park and attracting the investment required to build quality, affordable housing for the people of Port Glasgow and Inverclyde.' The first tranche of flats to be demolished is opposite the former church building. The properties will be knocked down after the former church and school buildings have been dismantled. Work is being carried out by Greenock-based company Caskie Limited. Inverclyde Council has been acquiring properties in Clune Park for several years and now owns a significant proportion of the estate. The vast majority of the estate is derelict and the residential blocks, former school and the old church buildings have all been badly affected by deliberate fires and anti-social behaviour. A new Clune Park masterplan was approved by the council in November 2023 with the ultimate aim of demolishing the estate and building up to 165 new, affordable homes for social rent. The masterplan is subject to a variety of factors, including securing ownership of the remainder of the estate, obtaining planning permission, and attracting the necessary external funding to build new homes. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: 'Around 3pm on Friday, May 2, 2025, police were made aware two men, aged 31 and 20, had been injured at a premises at Montgomerie Street, Port Glasgow. 'Emergency services attended and both were taken to Royal Alexandra Hospital for treatment. 'The Health and Safety Executive has been informed.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Two men taken to hospital after being injured in demolition of ‘Scotland's Chernobyl'
Demolition bosses say an investigation will be carried out 999 DASH Two men taken to hospital after being injured in demolition of 'Scotland's Chernobyl' TWO men have been taken to hospital after being injured in the demolition of a ghost town estate dubbed 'Scotland's Chernobyl'. The workers, aged 20 and 31, were hit by a piece of falling stonework at around 3pm on Friday at the Clune Park estate in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde. Advertisement 1 Two workers were taken to hospital after sustaining injuries in the demolition of Clune Park estate Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Fortunately, neither suffered serious injuries, and both were discharged from hospital later that evening. One of the men was left with bruising. The demolition is being carried out by Greenock-based contractors Caskie Limited. Bosses say they will carry out a full investigation into the incident. Advertisement Director Euan Caskie told the BBC the firm has "robust" health and safety procedures in place but could not comment further until staff interviews had been conducted. Police attended the scene following the incident and the Health and Safety Executive has reportedly been informed. Wrecking crews started tearing down the estate, which has been abandoned since the late 1990s, earlier this week. The eyestore Clune Park estate was in such a grim state that Inverclyde Council once compared it to the Ukrainian town of Pripyat, which has been abandoned and completely uninhabitable since the Chernobyl reactor exploded in 1986. Advertisement We told previously how the hellhole scheme has become a magnet for vandals and urban explorers, with buildings covered in graffiti and broken windows. Piles of debris have littered the streets while some areas have had to be fenced off to stop people from entering dangerous buildings. Workers finally demolishing an abandoned housing estate dubbed 'Scotland's Chernobyl' Council bosses have been waiting to pull down the estate for many years but a dispute with a landlord who refused to sell up postponed the plans. Last August, the council confirmed it had bought up many of the properties and served dangerous building notices on the remaining structures, meaning demolition could finally begin.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Workers hurt by falling masonry at demolition site
Two workers have been injured by a piece of falling masonry during the demolition of a derelict housing estate in Inverclyde. The men, age 31 and 20, were struck by the stonework at Clune Park in Port Glasgow at about 15:00 on Friday and were taken to hospital. Neither have been seriously hurt. Demolition contractors Caskie Limited will carry out a full investigation into the circumstances. Director Euan Caskie told the BBC the company had "robust" health and safety policy and tries to avoid such incidents at all costs. More stories from Glasgow & West Scotland More stories from Scotland He confirmed the men had been released from hospital on Friday evening, one with bruising, but could not comment further until employees had been interviewed. Police were called following the incident and the health and safety executive has been informed. Inverclyde Council said on Friday that the former church in the estate had been completely demolished after work began earlier this week. Built in 1905, Clune Park Church was in an advanced state of decay when bulldozers moved in - its roof was completely gone with trusses piled up on Robert Street outside. The works will also see an old primary school building and 138 properties across 15 tenement blocks razed to the ground. The tenements at Clune Park were built a century ago as housing for shipyard workers but have lain mostly abandoned for years. A stand-off between private landlords and the local council has prevented redevelopment, with a handful of tenants remaining. Inverclyde Council owns a significant proportion of the estate having brought properties over a number of years. In recent years the run-down estate has become a magnet for urban explorers and photographers, forcing the authorities to step up security patrols. Dangerous building notices were served following investigations by the council's building standards officers and external surveyors. It was described as "Scotland's Chernobyl" more than a decade ago and the name stuck, despite having a very different story to the Ukrainian disaster zone. Local politicians say it was an easy badge to apply to the area because of its desolate nature. On Friday council leader Stephen McCabe said the first phase of the demolition work was a key step towards regenerating the estate. Bulldozers to move in on 'Scotland's Chernobyl'
BBC News
03-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Two workers injured in demolition of Port Glasgow's Clune Park estate
Two workers have been injured by a piece of falling masonry during the demolition of a derelict housing estate in men, age 31 and 20, were struck by the stonework at Clune Park in Port Glasgow at about 15:00 on Friday and were taken to have been seriously hurt. Demolition contractors Caskie Limited will carry out a full investigation into the circumstances. Director Euan Caskie told the BBC the company had "robust" health and safety policy and tries to avoid such incidents at all costs. He confirmed the men had been released from hospital on Friday evening, one with bruising, but could not comment further until employees had been were called following the incident and the health and safety executive has been Council said on Friday that the former church in the estate had been completely demolished after work began earlier this in 1905, Clune Park Church was in an advanced state of decay when bulldozers moved in - its roof was completely gone with trusses piled up on Robert Street works will also see an old primary school building and 138 properties across 15 tenement blocks razed to the ground. The tenements at Clune Park were built a century ago as housing for shipyard workers but have lain mostly abandoned for years.A stand-off between private landlords and the local council has prevented redevelopment, with a handful of tenants Council owns a significant proportion of the estate having brought properties over a number of recent years the run-down estate has become a magnet for urban explorers and photographers, forcing the authorities to step up security building notices were served following investigations by the council's building standards officers and external was described as "Scotland's Chernobyl" more than a decade ago and the name stuck, despite having a very different story to the Ukrainian disaster zone. Local politicians say it was an easy badge to apply to the area because of its desolate Friday council leader Stephen McCabe said the first phase of the demolition work was a key step towards regenerating the estate.
STV News
30-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
Demolition of 'Scotland's Chernobyl' housing estate begins
The long-awaited demolition of a derelict housing estate dubbed 'Scotland's Chernobyl' began on Wednesday. Clune Park, in Port Glasgow, was initially built to house shipyard workers, however, the properties were sold to private owners over time. Inverclyde Council announced its plans to demolish the properties last year following 'extensive investigations'. STV News Clune Park, Port Glasgow STV News Greenock-based Caskie Limited won the contract and have moved to the site and started the first phase of the demolition which is projected to take around six months. STV News Inverclyde Council announced its plans to demolish the properties last year following 'extensive investigations'. STV News Initially, 430 residential properties across 45 tenement blocks, the church and the fire damaged school will be razed to the ground. Members of the public have been urged to stay away from the largely abandoned area which has been targeted by deliberate fires and anti-social behaviour in recent times. A new Clune Park masterplan was approved by the council in November 2023 with the ultimate aim of demolishing the estate. Council leader Stephen McCabe told STV News: 'We're looking to build new houses on this site and build a new community, probably building around 150 houses for social housing. 'We want to build a new community and give it a bright future. It has a very good location, Clune Park, it is very close to the town centre and transport links. STV News Inverclyde Council announced its plans to demolish the properties last year following 'extensive investigations'. STV News 'I'm confident it will be a popular place to live once we build the new houses.' He hopes that lessons can be learned to ensure estate is ever left to rot again. Councillor McCabe said: 'I think the real lesson for Clune Park is that councillors don't have sufficient power to try and address the issues around private housing. 'That has meant we've had a long, torturous and costly process to get to the point we are today. 'I think the Scottish Government need to look at Clune Park as a lesson and see if councillors under the law can take action earlier than we were able to take.' The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
