Glasses were raised for the successful demolition of Dundee’s Derby Street multis on Sunday but not without some regret.
In a highly technical and controlled operation, the city’s two tallest housing blocks at 22 storeys are to be toppled without touching St Martin’s Episcopal Church which occupies the site between them.
The Bishop of Brechin the Rt Reverend Nigel Peyton, St Martin’s rector Alison Jones and Coldside councillor Jimmy Black visited the scene yesterday as contractors Safedem and Dundee City Council made final arrangements for what should be the spectacular “blow down” of the Butterburn and Bucklemaker courts.
The Rev Jones said: “We are quite relieved it is finally happening as it has been talked about for years. We know how hard the contractors and the council have worked and they and the community will be in our prayers for the demolition to go well.”
The Rt Rev Peyton added: “St Martin’s has been part of the community for over 100 years and we hope to be here for many years to come and be part of the community’s regeneration.”
SNP councillor Mr Black, the former housing convener, said the demolition would make a huge difference to the Hilltown skyline but he regretted it happening.
“When we came into power in 2009 I spent the first year trying to reverse the policy but too much had happened and it could not be stopped,” he said. “The flats were popular and I wanted them to be kept, but it would have cost something like £10 million to upgrade them and that was money we did not have.
“I do think it’s a shame that so many people have been taken out of the community and that’s going to affect things like the local shops and schools.”
An exclusion zone will be set up around the area, with around 600 homes and 60 commercial premises being evacuated from 8am. The cordon will be lifted in the afternoon.
The event has captured the imagination of the community the Glenlivit Bar will be closed by the exclusion plan but will reopen for a “multis coming down party”.St Martin’s service on Sunday will instead be at St Margaret’s in Lochee.