Boost for Clyde riverside improvements
MILLIONS of pounds is to be spent repairing the crumbling River Clyde quay wall.
Recent surveys of the sections of the wall owned by the city council found two thirds are in poor or very poor structural condition.
A report which will go before councillors this week says lack of investment in the maintenance of the quay walls has been identified as a significant barrier to regenerating areas of the river corridor.
The cost of repairing the quay walls is seen a factor preventing new development and the use of vacant sites.
The report says: “Concerns about the stability of several sections of quay wall, borne out by recent incidences of quay wall collapse, mean access to part of the river edge is restricted.”
As a result of the £1.13billion City Deal, which funds infrastructure projects in Glasgow and surrounding areas, more than £50million has been set aside to improve access, quality and structural integrity of the waterfront.
Councillors will be told: “The river corridor boasts a number of landmark attractions including Glasgow Green, SECC, Glasgow Science Centre and the Riverside Museum that generate an annual footfall of more than 6m visitors.
“However the poor quality of the riverside results in the city missing out on an opportunity to bring added vibrancy to the river edge.
“City Deal investment will be focused along a stretch of the river from the Albert Bridge at Glasgow Green to the Riverside Museum and onward to the proposed Govan-Partick bridge.”
The cash will be used to up- grade the quay walls, improve the river edge for pedestrians and cyclists, unlock the development potential of vacant and derelict land and bring vibrancy to the river edge.
The council owns virtually all of the north bank of the river between Glasgow Green and the Clyde Arc as well as the area next to the Riverside Museum.
On the south side of the river, the council’s ownership extends from Glasgow Green to Clyde Place.
Last year, the Evening Times revealed urgent work had begun to prevent a section of the quay wall at the Waterfront development on the south of the river from collapsing.
In August 2014, the council closed the riverside walkway after engineers discovered part of the wall was crumbling. The section of wall at is owned by the owners of properties in the Waterfront which is made up of Riverview Gardens, Riverview Place and Riverview Drive who are responsible for the cost of repairs.
But the new report says the council is considering the most appropriate way of allocating limited funding to third party owners.
The executive committee will also consider a report which recommends awarding a £870,000 contract to a specialist team which will look at the condition of the quay wall at the Briggait and Anderson/Lancefield quay.
They will undertake an inspection and condition survey and their findings will be used to decide on the best option for upgrading the wall.