Landmarkoreyesore?You decide future of gas works
RESIDENTS are to decided whether a part of Glasgow’s industrial history is an eyesore or a landmark.
Gas holders in Kelvindale are being considered for listed status by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
The structures are a wellknown part of Glasgow’s skyline but could be dismantled as part of a programme of work by national gas firm SGN.
Now HES has asked local councillors and community council members to share views on the future of the towers before deciding whether they should be historically preserved, or allowed to be destroyed.
The structures at the Temple Gasworks were built on Strathcona Drive between 1983 and 1900, and were some of the largest in the world at the time of their construction.
In 1891 the site was taken over y the Glasgow Corporation, from the Partick, Hillhead and Maryhill Gas company and joined to nearby Dawsholm gasworks to form one plant.
When the gasometers were built, the site was capable of producing around 2million cubic feet of gas each day. Although the plant closed in 1968, the two gas holders were still being used until fairly recently.
Now HES is gathering local views on categorising the towers, which are almost half a mile tall.
In a report, HES states there “are no known development proposals affecting these structures” but added: “There is an ongoing programme of dismantling gasholders at SGN sites across Scotland, which has been endorsed by Ofgem.”
Inspectors carried out a site visit and found the holders themselves to be suitable for listing criteria, although the booster house, which was built around 1960, did not meet listing criteria.
HES staff have proposed to give the structures a category B status, excluding the tanks and shells.
A spoeksman for Historic Environment Scotland said: “Scotland has a rich industrial heritage and, from Glasgow, was leading the world in engineering in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Temple Gasholders served the people of Glasgow for many decades and have become a recognisable part of the Kelvin skyline and a reminder of the city’s history.
“The gasholders at Temple are significant and rare surviving examples of their building type and were amongst the largest gas holders in the world at the time of their construction.”
Martin Rhodes, Labour councillor, has appealed for locals to share their views with him by email, and he will ensure these form part of the consultation.
He said: “I went to the community council to see if they could gather people’s opinions. The idea is they will feed that back to me and I will include all of these in my response the consultation. I want to know if the community think.
“These are a well-recognised part of the city’s landscape and it is very important that residents have a voice in their future.”