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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stuart Wilson

Demolition of Ayr's iconic high flats begins as tower blocks come down

Wrecking crews have begun to tear down Ayr's iconic high flats.

The famous tower blocks – a landmark on Ayr's skyline for more than 50 years – are making way for new social housing.

Demolition teams have kicked off the process of taking down the first of three skyscrapers.

South Ayrshire Council chiefs sounded the death knell on the flats following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

Their surveys estimated the cost of refurbishment at anything up to £35m – eliminating the chance of the buildings being saved.

Tory council candidates had made a pre-election pledge to halt any works – before high levels of asbestos were discovered during pre-demolition surveys.

Demolition work begins at the high flats in Ayr (Alasdair MacLeod/Ayrshire Post)

That signalled the end and crews have now moved in to begin the painstaking work of removing the buildings.

Council chiefs say two of three blocks should be down completely within six weeks.

Work on the third and final block will commence once a phone mast – belonging to EE – has been removed.

A spokesman said: "Demolition works continue on the high flats in Ayr. Since February of this year, internal fixtures and fittings have been removed from each of the three blocks along with any asbestos.

"Last week, contractors started work to dismantle the exterior of the middle block, which should take six weeks to complete.

"Two of the blocks should be completely demolished by mid-November. Work to demolish the third and final block will get underway once the telecoms mast has been removed, discussions are ongoing with EE at the moment."

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