Fresh delay hits repairs to jinxed tower

Published on Friday 31 May 2002 01:00

FURTHER delays have hit repairs to the Glasgow Science Centre’s fault-plagued tower because specialist engineers are not available.

The latest setback came as staff await imminent news of job cuts at the Pacific Quay attraction to help reduce its 1 million deficit.

Work to replace a faulty bearing at the base of the 400ft tower, which had caused it to sink by half an inch, should have started more than four weeks ago.

However, centre officials admitted yesterday that the operation has now been delayed until mid-June because the required specialists are not available until then.

The centre has lost thousands of pounds due to the 10 million tower being out of action for half the time since the complex opened last June.

This further hitch is likely to increase the centre’s losses and will raise fears about whether Scotland’s tallest structure can be re-opened in time for the main summer tourist season.

A team from East Kilbride firm Caley Ocean Systems plan to jack up the tower to free the thrust bearing at the tip of its conical base, which is thought to have become corroded from water leaks. The company, which built the 1 million base cone, will use hydraulic equipment to raise the 500 tonne structure by three-quarters of an inch (20mm).

The tower's base will be rested on a metal slab while the spherical bearing, the size of a car tyre, is examined. A custom-built replacement bearing will not be substituted until the cause of the fault is found.

Meanwhile, the centre’s 120 staff are expected to learn today or early next week how many jobs will go as part of its savings programme.

Tom Merchant, the centre’s interim chief executive, is due to announce a new business plan to get the complex back on track.

Amicus, the union which represents staff, fears up to 30 redundancies as part of the expected cost-cutting programme.