Exclusive: Pinkston highrises saved as residents force GHA retreat

Jun 4 2009 Frank Hurley

Pinkston

HUNDREDS of towerblock residents have won their five-year campaign to save their homes from demolition.

Campaigners in two double multi-storeys in Pinkston Drive, Sighthill, have finally got support from the board of Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) to renovate the blocks.

Residents, many of whom have lived there since the late 1960s, were horrified when they were told the blocks would be torn down.

Now GHA has agreed to a full assessment on the financial impact of the proposal to save Pinkston.

The move follows a passionate campaign by the Pinkston Tenants' Association to keep some or all of the blocks.

Campaign spokesman Sean Clerkin said: "This is a tremendous victory. Everyone gets along very well in this unique community which has welcomed refugees and asylum-seekers."

A gha spokeswoman said the plan would see the blocks at 31/35 and 3/5 Pinkston renovated.

The three double multistorey blocks - at 16/18, 17/19 and 32/34 Pinkston Drive - would be either demolished or "disposed of". This means they will no longer be used for social housing.

The 546 GHA tenants will be able to choose where they are rehoused, while GHA will hold discussions with the nine owners affected.

Jim Sneddon, GHA's executive director of regeneration, said: "We recognise the great sense of community in Pinkston. People are at the heart of what we do and these plans show we mean what we say."