Controlled explosion demolishes Scottish tower block
A controlled explosion saw the demolition on the weekend of a 17-storey tower block that has dominated the skyline of Motherwell in Scotland since the1960s.
The Glencairn Tower was razed in a 'blow-down' that was watched by thousands of people. The demolition process saw more than 100kg of explosives placed around the building and detonated in a carefully planned sequence.
A clear up operation of the site and surrounding area is already underway, and the block will be replaced by a new low-rise affordable housing development. An exclusion zone that was set up around the building while the demolition took place has now been lifted and residents and business owners have been allowed to return.
North Lanarkshire Council's leading housing representative, Barry McCulloch, said that the demolition went exactly to plan and they were now looking to the future.
"Our aim was to ensure the tower was demolished safely and with minimum disruption to local residents and businesses during this process, and today's successful demolition achieved that," he told The Herald newspaper.
Former tenant of the tower, Colin Campbell, said it had been a nostalgic day, but he had high hopes for the plans for the site.
"Having lived in and grown up in the tower, I have many fond memories of the building, particularly as my dad was one of the caretakers there," Campbell explained. "It was spectacular to see and I'm sure the new houses planned for the tower site will make a positive difference to the local area."
