Demolition opens Gloucester Cathedral views
The demolition of an unsightly tower block in Gloucester has opened up views of the city's cathedral that some residents thought they would never see again.
When demolition contractors took down the Gloscat tower, 87-year-old Ursula Windsor said she was able to see a view from her Brunswick Square home that she thought had been lost forever nearly 50 years ago, when the tower was first built.
"We moved here in 1962 and you could see the cathedral then," said Ursula. "But then they built that tower block. We called it a real 60s building. We were sad not to be able to see the cathedral, but more sad at what they put in its way."
She said the whole community has been following the gradual razing of the block with keen anticipation.
"I've been very excited since I knew we would be able to see the cathedral again, it's a lot better than what was there," she added. "I go up to my neighbours to see it - we've all been looking at it."
The Brunswick Road building formerly housed the Gloucestershire College of Art and Technology, but has been empty for at least four years, and had become the dangerous target of vandals and graffiti artists.
Plans are already well underway to transform the area with new low-rise buildings and homes and communal space.
