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£5 million is a steel to save Granton gas tower



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Published Date: 09 July 2008
We should hang on to the last reminder of the Capital's industrial past, says Elizabeth Maginnis.
FROM my desk at the Pilton Equalities Project I have a clear, uninterrupted view of the Granton gas tower. From this distance, it's stately, elegant appearance belies its messy industrial past.

At the time of their construction, WR Herring's ta
ll gas holders were described as "steel frames of extraordinary delicacy" – the architect plainly determined to create a thing of beauty to disguise the mess and muck of their industrial usage.

News that the last tower is on borrowed time has provoked a mixed reaction.

"So what?" was the reaction of many Evening News bloggers. "It's an eyesore, of no use to anyone," were some of the more repeatable comments.

Mostly, though, people point to the cost of retaining it and argue it isn't worthwhile. I beg to differ.

Granton's waterfront, like Leith's, is set for complete transformation. Eventually it will be the home for important national collections, seats of learning, hotels, and homes for the third millennium.

Most of all, it will be clean, green and environmentally sound. It hasn't always been like that.

In 1902, when the gasworks was officially opened, Granton was a place for graft, grime and gritty living. Granton Gas Works provided the muscle, energy and power to keep Edinburgh going.

If National Grid gets its way, the last remaining iconic symbol of Edinburgh's industrial heritage will go, and with it, the last visual reminder of an extraordinarily important piece of Edinburgh history.

Edinburgh's history is about more than Castle, palace, cathedral and parliament. It is just as much the history of ordinary working people who sweated and got dirty.

National Grid estimates it will cost £5 million to put the framework right. I believe it is a small price to pay. Other cities, such as Dublin, understanding their industrial heritage, have protected their gas towers. So what's stopping Edinburgh? Once it's gone, it's really gone.

• Elizabeth Maginnis is councillor for Edinburgh's Forth Ward





The full article contains 345 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 09 July 2008 10:18 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

PaulW,

former resident of West Edinburgh 09/07/2008 11:42:26
Sorry Cllr Maginnis. I have never heard such tosh in all my life.

If you seriously think that gas tower is worth saving, you are having a laugh. If the city wants to prevent the site being redeveloped, fair enough, but why not use it as green space or sports facilities. The £5 million costs will need to be repeated every generation and for what - a total eyesore?

Unbelievable that a councillor can talk about poverty and spending £5million on this scrap metal in the same article. Labour really are out of touch with reality. This at a time when they left the council with a crisis in in its education funding that the new lot are having to sort out - and they want to waste £5 million on this every 30 years.
2

Pop goes the Weasel ,

09/07/2008 12:18:13
I think Councillor Maginnis raises some very valid points. Icons of Edinburgh's industrial heritage can be just as important as some architectural aspects of the old and new towns. With the comprehensive redevelopment of the harbour areas, surely retaining an icon from Edinburgh's industrial past will only serve to enhance and enrich the area.

Keep the gas tower I say!
3

Doh,

09/07/2008 12:42:50


Pull it down.

Bunty has already desecrated her piece of Edinburgh heritage by adding an extension.

It is not an icon it is an eyesore.
4

gorgeousgorgieboy,

Edinburgh 09/07/2008 12:51:30
Who voted for this silly tart?
5

aleex,

Edinburgh 09/07/2008 12:55:10
Edinburgh's original Victorian gasworks were uncovered when they were building the Councils new HQ, but did the Councillors stop to preserve them? Nope, the built a huge sandstone monstrosity on top of them!
6

tomias,

Edinburgh 09/07/2008 13:28:46
Well said Eliz0 hold on to our past- so everybody,hold onto Cooncillor McGinnis-hold on especially as there is so much to hold onto !
7

The Chief,

Half way up the tower. 09/07/2008 13:34:43
Anyone else who posts here that it is an “eyesore” I would like to hear why. People are quick enough to label things as eyesores but can’t justify why.

The gas towers, large, engineered metal structures.

Is the Forth rail bridge an eyesore? How much money is spent maintaining that? Surely it would be better just to knock it down and build a modern bridge which requires less maintenance? However it is preserved at a high cost because it is seen as an engineering marvel and a symbol of the post.

Surely to a lesser extent the gas towers can be seen in this way and preserved.

I hope so.
8

Jacqui123,

Granton 09/07/2008 13:37:45
As a resident of the Granton Area for my whole 30 years on the planet I couldn't agree more with this article. The Edinburgh skyline is ever changing and someone has to stand up for the few things left that remind people of the basis of our community.
This is an ever changing and vibrant city, however we should not forget our roots. For too long people in this city have paid money to accomodate visitors or people moving here, there should be some protection of our heritage. Redevolpment is a great thing but some things should be left as they are.
9

,

09/07/2008 13:42:02
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
10

The Genuine Mario Antoinette,

09/07/2008 14:38:48
well sai 7, 8 and Elizabeth Maginnis.
11

PaulW,

former resident of West Edinburgh 09/07/2008 15:00:48
#10,7,8 etc.

Ok guys. You have a different opinion. Fair enough, if it could stand where it is and not cost anyone a penny.

However, tell me why the heck taxpayers should fork out £5 million in cash to preserve a thing that most people think is an eyesore, when potentially frontline services would be starved of that money. You guys are getting £500 million in tram money from Scottish taxpayers already. Is there no end to your greed?

It is a giant, very functional gas cylinder -not the Falkirk wheel or the Forth bridge! The Forth Bridge actually carries trains, is acknowledged as a Wonder of the Modern World, and (here's the clincher) is a key part of Scotland's transport network and is likely to remain so. A slightly different story to a redundant gas tank which is a blight on the skyline.

We may have to agree to disagree on this, but I think Cllr Maginnis is totally off her rocker on this. Even in a hundred years I doubt you will see the gas tank become a tourist draw, let alone put a single penny in the pocket of the folk of Granton.

If you feel that strongly that it is an asset, put your money where your mouths are and raise the money privately and from the lottery or something - even the latter would a misuse of quasi public funds IMHO.

12

The Genuine Mario Antoinette,

09/07/2008 15:27:53
I think we have to disagree as some of the things you would want your tax money spent on - I wouldnt.

Thats the way it works.
13

The Genuine Mario Antoinette,

09/07/2008 15:30:14
Life isnt all about functionality and about basic services.

We need some joy and for some , as sad it may sound to some, retaining architecture is a joy.
14

Abel Magwitch,

09/07/2008 15:55:52
Glasgow is proud of its industrial heritage and it has has kept its largest shipyard crane. London's Battersea Power Station is preserved though no longer in use as such. Paris has turned one of its Victorian railways stations into a museum.

With its hunger for luxury flats, Edinburgh could surely adapt the Granton tower for that purpose e.g. drill some holes in the side for windows.

15

Kirsty Boyd-Williamson,

New Town 09/07/2008 15:58:50
My suggestion would be to line the inside of the structure with hardwood to form a Wall-of-Death. These were very popular in bygone days. Cllr Bunty might be available to officially open it with a demonstration on a specially strengthened mini-moto.
16

Euan,

Edinburgh 09/07/2008 16:32:37
I can see where the councillor is coming from, but this big old tower is simply sitting there doing nothing other than rotting away quietly.

£5 million is an AWFUL lot of money to keep an old gas tower standing, but I suppose you could see an Edinburgh bus tour going past it one day with the commentary informing visitors about it's industrial past.

Still, £5 million just for that? , and really, how interesting is an old gas tower?

Hmmmmmmm..
17

Ed_Izmir,

Turkey 09/07/2008 16:35:14
It's a redundant gas holder. Get a grip! Remove it, clean up the polluted land underneath and move on....
18

Buttress,

09/07/2008 17:03:55
This Grade B Listed structure MUST be saved. Thank heavens that someone is fighting for it!

19

Buttress,

09/07/2008 17:07:56
Also - it's not the council which would be spending the cash (and that repair estimate is only that of the owner...) but National Grid. Of course it wants to demolish the structure - it wants to make more cash for shareholders from development. However, as a listed structure, the profit of any development should be considered 'enabling' - and the cash to repair this very rare and important listed piece of industrial archaeology should come from that.

20

SNP Sleeze Reporter,

09/07/2008 17:21:47
Buttress,

I agree with your principle on the Canongate mess but you keep coming in and spouting rubbish. Better leave the posting to someone else from EH8 - you are really pyssing us off.
21

Buttress,

09/07/2008 17:27:13
20 - have you been at the Buckfast? Or eaten too many broon envelopes? This story is about the gas tower.

However, while you mention it, I have no doubt those doughty campiagners at www.eh8.org.uk wouldn't mind a mention.
22

SNP Sleeze Reporter,

09/07/2008 17:59:31
Buttress. Stories about all things gas suit you doon tae the ground - thank god all the 8ies are not like yourself.
23

Buttress,

09/07/2008 18:02:30
Know them all personally, I presume?

What a lot of hot air some folk spout though, without much understanding.

National Grid plc:

http://www.nationalgrid.com/
24

Buttress,

09/07/2008 18:03:54
'National Grid (LSE: NG.; NYSE:NGG) is an international electricity and gas company and one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. We play a vital role in delivering gas and electricity to many millions of people across Great Britain and northeastern US in an efficient, reliable and safe manner. We are committed to safeguarding our global environment for future generations and providing all our customers with the highest standards of service through investment in our networks and through our talented, diverse workforce.

National Grid owns the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and operates the system across Great Britain. It also owns and operates the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain and its distribution business delivers gas to 11 million homes and businesses.

In the US, National Grid distributes electricity to nearly five million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. Owning 6,650 megawatts of electricity generation, it is the largest power producer in New York State – carrying power to over one million customers on Long Island and supplying around a quarter of New York City’s electricity needs. It is also the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., delivering gas to 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

National Grid also has a number of related businesses such as LNG importation and storage, land remediation and metering.'

Aye - it can afford to repair the gas tower, and endow it for the future.



25

DouglasT,

09/07/2008 23:23:13
No doubt the £5 million will multiply much as the dome, holyrood, olympics, css, etc. surely such monies would be much better used in reducing poverty in our country. or is poverty insignificant when compared to a redundant gas tower in the mind of Elizabeth Maginnis.
26

Buttress,

10/07/2008 05:37:28
The cash for repair would come from owners NATIONAL GRID not the public purse, and it's not very likely that its shareholders would, instead, insist that it be given to charitable causes, is it?

27

DouglasT,

10/07/2008 08:39:51
and where does the national grid cash come from!
28

Buttress,

10/07/2008 10:09:00
If you read what I posted above - its own shareholders. The only reason National Grid wish to demolish the gasholder is in order to make more money for its shareholders.
29

Callum MacPherson,

Meadowbank 10/07/2008 18:24:18
Here here!! Keep the gas tower!

It's always important as you go through life, to remember where you've come from.

The gas tower is an important symbol of the Granton's and Edinburgh's past and as such has a certain inimitable beauty about it.

Keep the gas tower!!


 

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