Low-key relaunch of science centre's rotating tower

Published on Tuesday 2 December 2003 00:00

ENGINEERS are checking the Glasgow Science Centre’s fault-plagued observation tower after successfully completing major repairs to its base.

However, officials at the Clydeside attraction are still refusing to say when they expect the unique 400ft structure to re-open to the public.

The tower, which is Scotland’s tallest freestanding structure, has been shut for nearly two years since a key bearing in its base failed.

A specially-made replacement was installed in August, enabling the tower - the only one in the world to rotate completely - to again turn in the wind.

The new bearing was produced by the German firm Dyn Metals, with its steel section made in the UK and the bronze part made in Dusseldorf.

Engineers from Carillion, the principal contractors, are now making checks on the rest of the structure to ensure it is fully working before handing it back to the science centre.

An abseiler is due to check software in the computerised weather station at the top of the tower next week. The equipment takes wind speed and direction readings and tells the tower when to turn.

The Pacific Quay complex wants to re-open the tower as soon as possible to help reduce the centre’s deficit, which has already prompted cutbacks including staff job losses. Lost income from tower admissions is thought to top 1 million.

However, officials at the centre will want to be absolutely certain that the tower is completely fault-free after a series of embarrassing glitches jinxed the structure since its original opening in 2001.

Previous problems have included faults with the tower’s two glass lifts, which were found to be too heavy.

It is thought that there will be a low-key opening initially, followed by an official launch later when the centre is certain that everything is working smoothly.

One insider said yesterday: "They will want to be sure that when they officially relaunch the tower, nothing goes wrong. They have had their fingers burnt more than once before."

Jane Smith, a spokeswoman for Carillion, said yesterday: "The tower is rotating successfully, but we are still rigorously testing all the systems."

Ilya Scott, a spokeswoman for the centre, said it would not be drawn on the likely timescale for the remaining work or when the tower would reopen.

The 600 tonne structure had to be raised by a fraction of an inch to remove its 2ft diameter spherical thrust bearing, whose failure has been linked to corrosion from water penetration.

Legal dispute over responsibility for the fault delayed repairs for months.

The attraction was forced to make 15 staff redundant last year because of poor visitor numbers and debts.

It has lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in revenue because of the tower’s closure.

The main Glasgow Science Centre was forced to shut its showpiece exhibition mall for a week just a day after opening in 2001 because of a failure to meet the conditions of its licence.