FURIOUS homeowners next to a doomed block of flats are battling to halt the country’s biggest demolition project after being handed an “insulting” £100 Tesco voucher to leave their homes.
The residents, who live just 30 yards from the 26-storey towers in Wyndford, Maryhill, Glasgow, have branded the offer from demolition firm Wheatley Homes as “unacceptable”.
The 26-storey towers are set to be torn down in Wyndford, Maryhill, on March 23[/caption]
Furious Davie Baird, 70, was offered an “insulting” £100 Tesco voucher to leave his home for the day[/caption]
At least four households are refusing to budge, fearing the demolition will put their homes and health at risk.
The controversial plans will see 600 flats torn down on March 23 to make way for 386 affordable homes and a two-storey community hub.
Campaigners had hoped to take their fight to the UK Supreme Court, but last week the Court of Session in Edinburgh refused to grant leave to appeal.
This comes despite Glasgow City Council rejecting calls for a full environmental study into the impact of the demolition.
Safedem, the company carrying out the demolition on behalf of Wheatley, has written to residents offering £100 vouchers as compensation for any “out-of-pocket expenses” while they are temporarily evacuated.
Safedem was previously at the centre of an inquiry after a botched demolition left two of Glasgow’s Red Road flats partially standing.
The investigation found the company had underestimated the robustness of the buildings.
In its letter to the Maryhill residents, Safedem promised measures to minimise disruption, including dust suppression, jet-washing streets, and protecting gardens with geotextile materials.
They also vowed to repair any damage to properties caused by the demolition.
One resident, Davie Baird, 70, whose three-bedroom maisonette sits just a stone’s throw from the site, isn’t convinced.
He and others are refusing to leave without a resolution.
Davie said: “They couldn’t guarantee that all the asbestos and other hazardous materials had been removed. They just want you out for the day and don’t care where you go. £100 vouchers? It’s not acceptable.”
He told The Herald: “We feel we are entitled to more money because we will get the brunt out of the dust and stuff.
“There were pieces of what we think are asbestos landed in my neighbour’s garden after the storm of a few weeks ago and it came from the flats, because the windows are taken out and you can see inside them.”
He added: “They say the vouchers are a goodwill gesture. They are trying to push it through and I’m not happy with it. What happens if we don’t move – does that stop it? That is our stance.
“To me, they should make the [existing] flats more liveable. Surely the money spent on demolition could make the flats more liveable. There is a housing crisis so I don’t get why the flats need to come down. But it looks like they aren’t going to stop.”
Though an exclusion zone has been put in place, the works are anticipated to affect hundreds of residents from nearby homes.
A Wheatley Homes spokesperson told The Herald: “Health and safety is the number one priority during major regeneration work. To be clear, all asbestos in the buildings has been safely removed by an approved and licensed contractor, following strict health and safety guidelines.
“As is standard procedures, dust suppression measures will be put in place, including water sprays. Safedem’s community liaison team has been going door-to-door to speak with all of the residents inside the zone to answer any questions and make individual plans for the day.
“We are not aware of any reports from residents of debris coming off the buildings during the recent storm. As a goodwill gesture to acknowledge the disruption caused to local residents, all households within the exclusion zone will receive £100 in vouchers when they leave the area, to cover any out-of-pocket expenses.”
