The demolition of the first block of flats in a notorious Port Glasgow estate has begun, Inverclyde Council has confirmed.
Contractor Caskie started the process of pulling down a tenement block on the corner of Wallace Street and Robert Street in Clune Park on Tuesday.
It marks another significant milestone in the regeneration of the area, following work to remove the fire-damaged former church and school.
The project was deemed necessary in the interests of public safety after dangerous buildings notices were served following investigations by council building standards officers and external surveyors.
Council leader Stephen McCabe said: “Work is progressing well with the removal of the former church and school buildings.
“While that in itself was significant, seeing the flats starting to come down is a huge moment for everyone connected to Clune Park.
“There will no doubt be a sense of sadness among families who once lived here but there is also cause for celebration in seeing these properties coming down as we look ahead to a brighter future for Clune Park.
“We have exciting plans for new houses on the site, which is in a great location close to the town centre, local businesses, the river, and with excellent transport links.
“This area has such huge potential and can once again be a desirable place to live.”
The first tranche of flats to be demolished are at the eastern side of the estate at the junction of Wallace Street and Robert Street.
Euan Caskie, from Caskie, said: “Winning this contract has provided a great opportunity for our team to contribute to the work being done by the council in the local area and enables us to continue developing our workforce within the Inverclyde community.”
The council has been proactively acquiring properties in Clune Park for a number of years and now owns a significant part of the estate.
The majority of Clune Park is derelict and the residential blocks, former school and church buildings were all affected by deliberate fires and anti-social behaviour in recent times.
People have been encouraged to stay away from the area and take heed of the safety warnings during demolition phases.
A new Clune Park masterplan was approved by the council in November 2023 with an aim of regenerating the area with new homes.
It is subject to different factors, including securing ownership of the remainder of the estate, as well as planning permission, and attracting external funding.
