End of era at gas tower site

the gas holding goliath of Ayr is no more, after 57 years of blotting the landscape.

the Newton monument used to soar 183 feet high when the two concertina sections were full of gas.

For a month the three- inch thick steel has been cut into chunks and removed for recycling.

Our photographer Euan McCall captured a lone cutter, slicing through the last sections.

Even in its empty state, it was 50 feet high, and held gas for the entire town.

And locally there are stories of youngsters who climbed to the top, and lived to tell the tale.

the site had been put up for sale in February and extends to nearly two acres.

Owners scottish Gas Networks wanted between £ 50,000 and £ 100,000 for the site, with the tower taken down.

“It is no longer on the market.”

spokeswoman Lynne Edwardson said: “Our gasholders are an important part of our history and a significant feature on many skylines.

“As these structures are ageing and we can now store our gas in our pipes, we’re planning to dismantle half our gasholder fleet by 2021, with the remainder dismantled by 2029.

“We have permission from the council to dismantle the gasholder and we are aiming to clear the site by the end of the year.”