Demolition day for Kincardine's flats (Video)

Jamie MacDonald • Published 30 Jun 2010 10:38 0 Comments

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Sandeman court is brought crashing to the ground.

THERE were cheers and tears on Sunday as two of Kincardine's three high rise blocks of flats were brought crashing to the ground.

Built in the 1960s, Kincairne and Sandeman Courts have both been demolished to make way for 65 low level houses in what has been described as a "historic day" for the village.

Those gathered in the football park and other vantage points to watch the demolition applauded as the towers fell but there were also a few tears from the people who had previously called the buildings home.

Chick Robertson, formerly a resident of Kincairne Court, told the Advertiser, "It was quite an exciting moment. I have known the flats since I was a bairn and there were some people crying when they came down.

"There was a lot of people who were quite emotional and it was really strange coming back to Ramsay Court and the other buildings not being there.

"We are losing memories but looking forward to getting these new homes."

Around 400 people were evacuated from their homes inside the exclusion zone to the Community Centre as a precaution.

Warning sirens sounded 15 and three minutes prior to the blasts and then Kincairne Court toppled seconds in front of Sandeman.

Just under 50 kilos of explosives were used to bring both buildings down.

Safedem's managing director and explosive engineer William Sinclair said there had been absolutely no hitches in the operation.

He added, "It was fantastic, the buildings did exactly what we planned. It was perfect.

"Our eviction team did really well and everything went ahead of schedule.

"I would like to say a big thanks to everyone in Kincardine for making it easy."

Mr Sinclair continued, "It is pretty standard explosives that we use and we actually use a very little amount - gravity does the rest."

Work was set to start on Monday on the new houses that will home the residents of Ramsay Court, the remaining tower block, before it is also demolished.

Councillor Brian Goodall, Chair of Fife Council's Housing and Communities Committee, said, "It is a real historic day, the landscape has changed forever. Everyone in central Scotland knows the sight of the three flats of Kincardine.

"The work will start tomorrow on affordable housing and the great thing is the housing will be allocated to former tenants."

It is hoped the new houses will be completed by the end of 2011 and some of the materials in the demolished flats will be used to construct these homes.

The decision to reuse the material will be of benefit both environmentally and by reducing the need for supply deliveries to the site.

The 65 new houses will be built by Kingdom Housing Association as the first of three phases of work to be carried out in the area of the flats.

The second phase will see land sold off to a private developer to build new homes and the third will involve the demolition of Ramsay Court and the construction of low cost homes.

Kincardine councillor Willie Ferguson said, "As a councillor and resident I am happy to see them coming down, their days are done.

"The flats were good accommodation in their time but people don't want to live 15 storeys up now."

He continued, "It has been quite exciting times with the new bridge, the bypass and now the flats. It is progress."

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