Latest news with #InverclydeCouncil
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Britain's ‘Chernobyl estate' is finally DEMOLISHED as 430 rotting flats are wiped from map – bringing end to 2-year saga
AN INFAMOUS block of flats dubbed "Britain's Chernobyl" have been razed to the ground after rotting away for two years. Contractors moved in to take down the notorious apartments in the eerie Clune Park estate after they were branded dangerous. 6 6 6 The derelict buildings, located Port Glasgow, were deemed unsafe by the local Inverclyde Council. A former school and church building were demolished in the first phase of the wide-ranging deconstruction project. During the entire demolition, 430 residential properties across 45 tenement blocks are set to be torn down. 138 properties across 15 tenement blocks are will be demolished by contractors during this round of destruction. Inverclyde Council said the work is being carried out in the interests of safety. It comes after "dangerous buildings" notices were served following extensive investigations by authorities and surveyors. The public have been urged to stay away from the remote area. Largely abandoned, Clune Park has been targeted by arson attacks and plagued by anti-social behaviour. Also nicknamed " Scotland 's Chernobyl", the estate got its moniker for its desolate and and dangerous reputation. The buildings share a striking similarity to scenes of radioactive decay in the surrounding areas of the Chernobyl power plant. Inside abandoned center parcs A new masterplan for Clune Park was approved by the council in November 2023. It made the ultimate aim of demolishing the entire estate and building up to 165 new, affordable homes for rent. Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: 'Work is progressing well with the removal of the former church and school buildings. 'While that in itself was significant, seeing the flats starting to come down is a huge moment for everyone connected to Clune Park." He added: 'There will no doubt be a sense of sadness among families who once lived here. "But there is also cause for celebration in seeing these properties coming down as we look ahead to a brighter future for Clune Park." The councillor also said that they had exciting new plans for the houses on site. He also boasted of its prime location, close to the town centre as well as local businesses and great transport links. He added: 'This area has such huge potential and can once again be a desirable place to live.' The gruelling demolition work is being carried out by local contractor Caskie Limited, based in Greenock. A spokesperson for the firm said: "Winning this contract has provided a great opportunity for our team to contribute to the work being done." They added that it "enables us to continue developing our workforce within the Inverclyde community". 6 6 6
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Timeline for £24 million Greenock transformation revealed in new plans
The work will see a number of places demolished, including the Hector McNeil House, the Bullring Roundabout and the eastern side of the Oak Mall Shopping Centre. The A8 flyover in place of traffic light junctions will be removed, while the creation of new public spaces and a fresh entrance for the Oak Mall will also take place. Extensive planning has taken place on the project with some initial works and site investigations carried out. The main bulk of the work is to begin later in the year with contractors starting with the Oak Mall and Hector McNeill House works. The project is scheduled for completion in 2027 with more details on that to be announced in the future. Read More Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: 'This is a complex project involving various public and private sector partners and a lot of hard work has gone in behind the scenes to get to this stage where the main works are due to start soon. 'This is the biggest project of its kind in a generation with the aim of transforming central Greenock and the town centre for the better and is really exciting. 'It will build on the good work that's been done to date, including the new Ocean Terminal building and the West Blackhall Street redevelopment, by making Greenock a more accessible and attractive place to live, work, visit and do business. 'There will, of course, be disruption and we're not shying away from that. 'We're also well aware of disruption experienced by residents in recent times due to a variety of emergency and planned works, particularly on the roads network and we share those frustrations. 'Council officers are working closely with the main contractor and alongside our various partners to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum. 'It's worth remembering though that the long-term goal here is to modernise and improve Greenock and to try and revitalise the town centre. 'I hope people will share in this positive outlook for the town and get behind Greenock.' The total investment in the central Greenock project is expected to be around £23.58m, including associated land and road improvement costs. Inverclyde Council successfully bid for £19.39m from the UK Government towards the project with the remaining £4.19m is being sourced from various external funding pots and the council's capital reserves. UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: "I welcome confirmation that the transformation of Greenock Town Centre will begin later this year. 'This exciting project, funded by £19.39 million UK Government investment, will boost the economy, create skilled Scottish jobs and enhance the lives of communities. "The UK Government is investing more than £1.4 billion in dozens of important local growth projects and programmes across Scotland over the next 10 years - including up to £20 million more for Greenock as part of our Plan for Neighbourhoods. 'Working with partners we will deliver a decade of national renewal through our Plan for Change." The transformative programme from Inverclyde Council will create civic spaces, a restructured retail offer and improve links between various parts of the town centre and the waterfront. The ageing A78 flyover and the Bullring Roundabout will be removed with the road brought down to ground level to improve access. It will be replaced by a low-level trunk road which brings the town together and provide easier access for visitors and residents.
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Parents face 'huge' nursery bill after Scot council's cost-saving
From this year, there will be three intakes in Inverclyde, in August, January and April, which brings Inverclyde Council in line with the Scottish Government's funding - and saves them £70,000 a year. Children who turn three between March 1 and August 31 will start in August 2025; those whose third birthday is between September 1 and December 31 will start in January; and those turning three between January 1 and the last day in February will start in April. Up until now Inverclyde Council - along with other areas including Renfrewshire - had allowed three-year-old children able to take up their place on, or very soon after, their third birthday. But the council says that significant financial pressures have now forced them to make the cuts. Three years old miss out on nursery hours (Image: George Munro) For many families, it means hours of nursery time will be lost, with one Port Glasgow mum telling the Tele it means her child - born on September 1 - will now have to wait four months until she can start nursery. Despite Renfrewshire Council making a highly publicised U-turn following a huge backlash from parents, Inverclyde children will continue to be restricted to the three intakes a year. Shocked mum Emily Thomson said: "I couldn't believe it when I realised my daughter would not be able to go to nursery until January. "But my friend's child, born a few days earlier, can start in August. "It seems very unfair on many children. It means my daughter will be missing out because of the date she was born. "It is supposed to be for three and four year olds. But children born at certain times of the year are getting less hours than other children. That does not seem right. "I think everyone is now realising it has changed. "There will also be a huge childcare cost for some families. "I just want my daughter to be able to start nursery at three years old with her peers. 'I am willing to pay for the place until January. The place is going to be there anyway. They can't give it to anyone else. "But I was told that I would need to wait and see." The Scottish Government introduced its flagship policy of 1,140 hours of fully-funded early years education and childcare for all three and four year olds in 2021, after some delays. Ministers said the policy was intended to improve children's development, close the poverty gap, improve family wellbeing and increase parents' opportunities to work, train or study. But in the report to the education and communities committee, Inverclyde officials admitted that as a result of the changes, some children will actually get fewer hours than they're entitled to. Twenty-six per cent of those who took part in a survey on the issue said they feared it could cause either financial strain for working parents, impact on children's development, mean a reduced time in nursery for some, and 'create an unfair system'. But despite this the committee voted to approve the change in approach at a meeting in November. Education bosses in Inverclyde said they'd worked with other local authorities, including Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, to implement the changes to the system. However, earlier this month councillors in Renfrewshire voted to overturn the policy change which had cost families thousands of pounds and sparked a massive backlash. Read more: The picture elsewhere in Scotland is mixed, with neighbouring North Ayrshire only offering three intakes, while the country's largest local authority, Glasgow City Council, gives every child a place on the Monday after their third birthday. An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said: 'We previously provided early years provision a month after a child's second/third birthday, which was above the national minimum. 'However, councils only receive government funding for early years provision for the term after a child's second/third birthday. 'Following a review of our admissions policy and due to significant financial pressures on the education budget, it was proposed that we would align with other areas in Scotland and provide the statutory minimum early years provision. 'This was approved by the education and communities committee in November 2024.'
Glasgow Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Scots radio station pulled off air over ‘unbearable' alarm noise
George Coyle and the team at Clyde Coast Radio have been begging for help to track down the owner of the unit to get them to switch off the alarm at the building which houses their studio in Port Glasgow. George, who is an army veteran and lives with post-traumatic stress disorder, told our sister title The Greenock Telegraph that the alarm had caused a volunteer to have an anxiety attack while inside the studio. The station has been off-air for the last 19 days due to the loud and constant beeping noise from a unit next door to the Clyde Coast Radio studio on the Muirshiel Industrial Estate. The noise can be heard outside the building, and just as prominently inside the studio – and George says the alarm has made it impossible for the team to do their usual live broadcasts. He said: "I don't know where to turn. I feel like I am letting people down. "We just want to get back to doing what we love." George Coyle in the studio (Image: George Munro) The alarm sound is coming from unit 44 on the estate, a self-contained unit within the building. George says the sound has made it impossible for the team to concentrate – and has stopped them broadcasting live shows, as the sound is clearly audible to the station's listeners. He continued: "As soon as we switch the mics on, they pick up the noise. "Nothing can be done musically or on our system to get rid of it. You can't be in the studio for any length of time, it does your head in. "I've driven past at three in the morning to find out if it's still going off. "I have cried myself to sleep over it. I don't know why we're expected to go on like this." Lead volunteer and Clyde Coast Radio presenter Robert Gilmour added: "I'm so fed up with it. READ MORE: Port Glasgow army veteran hails supporters for saving much-loved radio station "We're having to disappoint people and that is not what we're about. "People who listen to my heavy rock show are from all over the world, as far afield as California and Texas. They love the interaction. "It's awful going home and trying to sleep when you've got a constant beeping sound in your head." George initially contacted the Inverclyde Community Development Trust, which owns most of the building, but was told they do not own the unit where the alarm sound is coming from. He has also contacted police, Inverclyde Council and former MP Ronnie Cowan, who is also a volunteer presenter on the station. Mr Cowan said: "It is a very frustrating situation. "It should be something as simple as phoning someone and asking them to come and switch it off. READ NEXT: Couple kept kids in dirty flat covered in animal waste and insects READ NEXT: Shamed English teacher groomed pupil at Glasgow school George with lead volunteer Robert Gilmour (Image: George Munro) "The problem is that it's within an industrial unit, so it can go off for days and days without anyone knowing. "No one is taking responsibility." An Inverclyde Council spokesperson added: "We provided help and advice, and our environmental health team is trying to assist further." George says the alarm has forced the station to cancel training sessions with people who want to learn how to be a radio presenter – as well as losing the station hundreds of listeners. He continued: "A teenager who is training with us lives with severe ADHD and we've have had to cancel his last three training sessions. "Community radio saved my life. We set up this charity to help veterans like myself, and help people with their mental health. "We all support each other. "Some of our volunteers come in just for a cup of tea and a chat, but we've not even been able to do that due to the noise. "We're here and we want to do what we should be doing but the noise is unbearable.' George has sent a very simple message to the owners of the building. He said: "Whoever owns it, please just come in and switch the alarm off. "It will give us our music back and our lives back." The reenock Telegraph managed to track down the owners of the unit, who said the continuing alarm sound was 'an oversight' and said it would be turned off as soon as possible.
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
