Former Neil Street 'danger' flats are finally bulldozed

Work has now started to raze the four blocks in Neil Street, which have been lying empty for almost a decade, to the ground.

The River Clyde Homes board finally gave the go-ahead for the 12-week programme to begin after a demolition order was first granted way back in 2018.

Since then there have been a series of delays and setbacks, including the Scottish Government calling a halt to the plans because housing chiefs had failed to make the buildings safe for the demolition to go ahead.

READ MORE:  Housing chiefs under pressure to pull down derelict flats

Greenock councillor Tommy McVey, along with the local community council, has taken on River Clyde Homes repeatedly regarding the eyesore, even putting down a motion at Inverclyde Council in a bid to get a response.

Now as the flats are reduced to rubble, he said: "Finally, the saga of the Neil Street flats is coming to an end. 

"No longer will residents have to look at this eyesore which has blighted our area for many years.

"It has taken more than eight years to get to this stage, which is far too long. I hope lessons have been learned.

"Thankfully, it will be all over in a few months and the flats will be no more. 

"There will be some noise and disruption during the demolition period, but hopefully residents will understand that it will be short-term pain for long-term gain. 

Neil Street (Image: George Munro)

RCH have also stated that once the site is cleared it will be covered in topsoil and seeded, so hopefully next year, we will have a nice tidy piece of open ground."

It was a moment of celebration for local residents including neighbour Suzanne Miller.

The Neil Street resident, who works at the nearby Inverclyde Royal Hospital, said: "It just feels great to watch them coming down. We have waited years and years for this.

"There were always people hanging about, anti social behaviour, they were setting fires and there was noise. 

READ MORE: Inverclyde residents exposed to more rises in heating bills

"It was terrible having to live beside it. We contacted Councillor McVey and we went along to the community council.

"You never felt safe walking past them, because you just didn't know who has hanging about. Now we will have a nice open space to look forward to. It will make so much difference."

Neil Street from left Paul Travers, Suzanne Miller and Councillor Tommy McVey (Image: George Munro)

River Clyde Homes first started emptying the flats almost 10 years ago. 

Although the demolition was granted in 2018, it has been plagued with delays including a failure by River Clyde Homes to respond to the Scottish Government.

At one stage RCH put the flats on the market and there were also suggestions they could be used for housing asylum seekers.

Two years ago Councillor McVey demanded action on Neil Street as part of a motion at a full council meeting criticising the performance of River Clyde Homes.

This prompted a direct response from the chief executive, Richard Turnock, and he met with the Greenock South West Community Council late 2023.

Community councillor Paul Travers said: "When we spoke with him, he said that he would take action.

"He said he would sort it, and to be fair, he has.

"This is something that we have raised again and again at the community council along with residents in Neil Street and Councillor McVey.

"It is good to see them finally coming down. The flats were plagued with anti social behaviour."

A River Clyde Homes spokesperson said, “We are pleased that the demolition works have now commenced and would like to thank residents in the area for their patience as we worked towards this.

"We will maintain communication with residents and stakeholders as the works progress.”