I RATHER imagine that the fire at the Yorkhill Quay former dockwarehouses in Glasgowwill come as a convenient relief to: ministers, elected members, senior officials, directors, and senior executives of: the Scottish Executive, Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, Peel Holdings plc, Clydeport Ltd and last, but certainly not least, GlasgowHarbour Ltd.
Now, no doubt, these bodies will claim that the destruction of the historic Anchor Line Dock Buildings was "sadly the result of a fire". Alas for these organisations this site has been carefully monitored for some considerable time.
I therefore wish to place on record that demolition of the range of buildings involved in the fire had already commenced some considerable time before the fire, and that their destruction has been caused quite simply by "developer greed", ably assisted by national and local government and associated quangos.
On several occasions in over 30 years this area at Yorkhill Quay, bounded by the Pump House and Yorkhill Basin, has been put forward as an ideal site for a proper celebration of Clyde Maritime Heritage. The reasons were so obvious; the former Anchor Line buildings, that had been Scotland's main emigration point to the United States and Canada, would have made the most suitable museum space at half of the cost of a new building, and so vitally there was also quayside for the display of appropriate vessels.
But those in authority have "chosen" or "allowed themselves to be convinced" that the newmuseum of transport, with "greater emphasis on maritime matters", should be on a peninsular site at the mouth of the River Kelvin, immediately to the west of the area at Yorkhill. Here there will be no historic buildings and no quayside, and the bill will be a mere GBP50m.
To add insult to injury the only substantial heritage vessel on display will be the tall ship Glenlee. Without doubt she is a wonderfully restored example of a Clyde-built sailing vessel.
Alas, however, anyone (except Glasgow CouncillorDr Christopher Mason)who has carried out even the most cursory research into Clyde Maritime Heritage knows that it was the development of steam power, initially by James Watt, William Symington and Henry Bell, that provided the impetus for the Clyde becoming world famous for shipbuilding and engineering. Thus it should therefore be a steam-powered vessel that takes pride of place at the new transport museum on Clydeside.
Ironically, this same fine sailing ship Glenlee, given different wind directions, would have become a victim of the Yorkhill fire; perhaps the time has come for those responsible for the ship to show some respect for the age of "steam".
David B Price, Auchenfroe Lodge, Cardross.
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