A “sense of relief” can be felt in Paisley’s Ferguslie Park as progress is made on the bulldozing of derelict housing in an area which has been a hotspot for fire-raising and fly-tipping.
Strides taken in Tannahill since demolition firm Caskie took control of the site in the summer have been welcomed as the relevant streets become “less tempting” for antisocial behaviour.
A report to Renfrewshire Council’s communities and housing policy board said 41 of 52 blocks had been knocked down by the end of November, however, it is understood just a handful remain now.
The major project has encompassed vacant properties in Ferguslie Park Avenue, Drums Avenue, Tannahill Road and Tannahill Terrace.
Councillor Janis McDonald, a Labour representative for Paisley Northwest, said: “I welcome the progress that has been made with the demolition of the houses in the Tannahill area.
“Residents and groups in the community are very happy to see the progress and many are relieved that the fire, dumping of rubbish and safety risks are reducing.
“The area is being made less tempting for vandals, fire-setting and fly-tipping. There is already a significant improvement – there are still ongoing works to be done obviously – but I think people feel a sense of relief that the changes are visible.”
Council officers continue to work with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland to address incidents of fire-raising and identify additional measures that can be taken to deter antisocial behaviour across its regeneration programme.
Meanwhile, residents of the wider area are doing their bit by “keeping an eye out” for anything that seems untoward or suspicious. Terry McTernan, chair of Ferguslie Community Council, said: “People are just desperate to get to the end, I certainly know the community council is.
“The demolition contract started in July and they had a whole year to get it down but there’s literally about three or four buildings left standing. We’ve got local people who are going down and clearing up fly-tipping as and when it happens as a means of trying to keep on top of it.
“We are a community who are actively concerned about our own environment. It’s been a bone of contention for such a long time that people are just looking forward to it being completed.
“There’s a hypervigilance in the area because people are at the end of their rope with it all. People are keeping an eye out.
“That is helping ever so slightly but we do still get the fly-tipping, which I would emphasise is not from local people. It’s coming from outside. The end is nigh and we are very excited. It means we can start engaging with the council again in terms of the future use of the area.”
The site will be landscaped once demolition works are complete.
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