Red Road flats: Apology over ‘failed’ demolition

A HOUSING association has issued an apology and ordered an independent technical review after attempts to demolish the landmark Red Roads high-rise flats in Glasgow left two out of six blocks largely intact.

The Red Road flats weren't completely demolished in the blast. Picture: Hemedia

The unexpected outcome on Sunday afternoon meant around 2,500 residents of the demolition’s exclusion zone were delayed returning home. Demolition contractors, Dundee-based Safedem, said they will begin work this week bringing down the two blocks dubbed the “Leaning Towers of Barmulloch” on social media.

William Sinclair, director of Safedem, said: “Two of the six blocks involved in Sunday’s blowdown didn’t fall exactly as planned. Instead of 10 storeys remaining in all of the blocks, we now have 13 still standing at Red Road Court and 11 at Petershill Drive.

“However, we will proceed with our original plan of dismantling all of the blocks using routine machine demolition methods. Preparations for this are already underway and high-reach machinery will begin taking down what’s left of the blocks this week.”

A spokesman for Glasgow Housing Association said: “We have commissioned an independent technical review of Sunday’s blowdown and would like to thank again the residents who were asked to leave their homes.

“We very much appreciate their co-operation and patience and hope they understand the reason for the slight delay in them getting back to their homes on Sunday was because the demolition contractor needed to be absolutely sure it was safe for them to do so.”