Dozens of people have been evacuated from their homes amid fears over an unsafe stone tower in Glasgow’s West End.
Police have asked residents living near Trinity College tower to leave while an exclusion zone is put in place after amid concerns the building has been damaged by high winds from Storm Malik.
The former Trinity College, designed by Charles Wilson and built as the Free Church College in 1857, currently has scaffolding around its West Tower to after stone collapsed from its façade last year.
Now there are concerns the 165-year-old structure could collapse. Glasgow City Council have moved those affected to a rest centre at nearby Kelvin Hall.
Trinity College Tower
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council told the PA news agency residents can expect to be out of their homes for “considerably longer than 24 hours”, although he would not be drawn on how long.
A rest centre has been set up at the nearby Kelvin Hall to help those who have been affected.
The council spokesman said: “There’s three towers on the building… the condition of that had deteriorated to the point where the owner’s contractors and our building standards team thought immediate evacuation was necessary.
“As it stands, those residents who are needing support are directed to the rest centre at the Kelvin Hall.”
He added: “Residents are likely to be out for some time.”
When pressed on how long that could mean, the spokesman said it would be “considerably longer than 24 hours”.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Around 12.55pm on Saturday, 29 January 2022, police assistance was sought from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to assist with traffic management at Lynedoch Street, Glasgow (near Park Circus).
"The Fire Service is currently dealing with an unsafe structure and officers are in attendance due to several roads being closed.
"A number of properties are also being evacuated."
Glasgow City Council issued a statement which reads: "An exclusion zone is being erected around Trinity building at Lynedoch St after structural deterioration found, worsened by high winds - residents being directed to rest centre at the Kelvin Hall, with Glasgow City HSCP in attendance.
"GCC teams working with Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service."
An exclusion zone is being erected around Trinity building at Lynedoch St after structural deterioration found, worsened by high winds - residents being directed to rest centre at the KelvinHall, with @GCHSCP in attendance. GCC teams working with @PoliceScotland & @fire_scot.
— Glasgow City Council (@GlasgowCC) January 29, 2022
The council have also confirmed the following road closures:
Lynedoch Street from Lynedoch Crescent to Lynedoch Place.
Lynedoch Place at Park Circus Place.
Woodlands Terrace at junction of Lynedoch Street / Lynedoch Place.
Claremont Place.
Woodside Terrace Lane at rear of Trinity building.
Woodside Terrace / Claremont Terrace junction closed.
Commenting on the incident, Labour MP Paul Sweeney took to Twitter to say: "Concerning news about further storm damage to the Old Trinity College building at Park Circus, built c.1861
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