Clydebank Fitting out Basin to be filled in

[Rob Lightbody]

I received this message this evening which was greatly concerned me -

There is an article in this weeks Clydebank Post regarding the redevelopment of the former John Brown's shipyard.
I was shocked to see that they are planning to fill in or partially fill in the fitting out basin adjacent to the Titan Crane.
I think this would be an act of vandalism considering the history of the site, and also would ruin the setting of the Grade A listed Titan Crane.
I was a surprised that the fitting out basin was not a listed structure.

The Dawn Group/ Clydeside Regeneration are holding a public consultation prior to their planning application, they have an exhibition at Cart Street Clydebank on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd September 12:00-20:00 on Thursday, 13:00-19:00 on Friday and 10:00 to 12:00 on Saturday.

Do you think some of the people on the QE2 story website would be interested in trying to change the proposals?

Also I see on the Historic Scotland website it is possible to propose a building/ structure to be listed, perhaps that is what is needed to prevent this atrocity.

[Peter Mugridge]

Ubelievable!

On what grounds do the powers that be propose to carry out this act of cultural vandalism?

[Rob Lightbody]

http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2011/08/25/416580-50m-vision-for-town/

[Rob Lightbody]

I'm going to go along next week to find out more.

[Peter Mugridge]

Hmmm... I'm sure with a bit of imagination they could make the basin a centrepiece that would enhance the development rather than fill it in.  For a start they talk about leiure and waterfront; I can think of several possibilities for the basin that would combine the two and probably increase the return on their investment, and I'm sure I'm not the only one...

[Rob Lightbody]

They've been far too keen in Glasgow to fill in all the docks. Docks which nowadays we could never afford to construct.

If they do anything at all to alter the shape of that dock, one of the last intact bits of the shipyard, it will be a disgrace.

[Peter Mugridge]

My first thoughts are that it would be an ideal point from which tourist sightseeing boats could arrive and depart ( I am thinking more of the sort of vessel that is used on the Thames in London, but have to ask is it possible to get Waverley in there or has the water silted up too much over the years?? ).

Then again, given the length and width of it, it should be possible to make a few uniquely histprical berths available for private yachts to ties up to - given the history of the area and the location if the full scale of the development goes ahead, then they could probably justifiably charge a premium for a mooring there.

Putting one of those waterfront restaurants at the very end of it, with the dining room windows facing down the length of the basin, would create a dramatic view; this could be tied in with one of the hotel proposals - have the restaurant on the ground floor, open to non residents, and build the hotel above making sure that the premium suites face out across the basin; they could have the best suite possibly at the exact height of, and just a few feet in front of, where the bow points of all three Great Queens would have been during fitting out.

And that's just the immediate three ideas...

[Rod]

Maybe they could fit the QE2 in it and then fill it in?

[Sea Pigeon]

That would be a great idea, that would create jobs and encourage visitors to the town 

Graeme

[Bob C.]

A travesty at a minimum. QM, QE, QE2 and others: such history that will be vandalized by the mere plackard marking the spot rather than the actual basin. This history rich location deserves much much more recognition. Do we cherish nothing anymore?

[No 736]

The fitting out basin is every bit as important as the Titan crane, the Glasgow school of art, the Hillhouse etc. etc.
This must not happen, there is no requirement for more supermarkets and the like. What are these people thinking about?

[Stowaway2k]

The article says "significant public realm work around the Titan Crane." but I'm curious as to where the specific information on filling in or partially filling in the fitting out basin comes from.

Is there another source for this information?

[Rob Lightbody]

The article says "significant public realm work around the Titan Crane." but I'm curious as to where the specific information on filling in or partially filling in the fitting out basin comes from.

Is there another source for this information?

the map that was in the clydebank post print edition showed the basin partly or fully filled in. I'll try to get an image, and will also find out more when I go to look at the planning application.

[Alistair]

They might as well bulldoze the whole town into the basin and walk away. As an ex Bankie I'm at a loss as to why they want to remove what precious little is left of the town's past. They should be trying to put a ship into the basin. Any ship that was built at Brown's would do but I have my own preference of course! The ship could be a focal point for other developments as suggested on this thread already.

[cunardqueen]

I thinks its disgrace that they should even consider filing in the fitting out basin


And when you consider this little extension bit and what it means as part of the Queens history to even think to fill in this bit is a national disgrace, However to joe public, its probably only a space.... 
I am right in saying this was added for the fitting out of the original Queens and the bow would fit in this place here...

[Mauretania1907]

I HOPE NOT. Ideas about yachts, excursion ships mooring there, surrounded by some cafes, a maritime museum, hotels etc would be good. Filling it in is a daft, stupid idea, it would be the ideal place for a museum of maritime history.
O yes, if a certain ship could be berthed there, I possibly would visit, especially if I was welcome aboard.
O, by the way, I missed last nights chat-room, somehow I couldn't log on. I'm glad to see my favourite web-site this morning. When is the next live chat, please.

[Lynda Bradford]

The fitting out basin and the Titan Crane, at the former John Brown's shipyard is all that remains of the shipbuilding history of the town. What a disgrace that there are plans to fill in the fitting out basin, that accommodated the most famous ships in the world, rather than preserving it for future generations.  

When visiting the Titan Crane last year it was difficult to imagine the shipyard as it was in the 1960's as there was nothing there as a memory of the shipbuilding years.  Nothing apart from the crane and the fitting out basin.  I find it hard to understand the reasoning behind this plan.  There is the danger that the fitting out basin could be filled in, then the development plan is shelved and the town will have lost another part of it's link with the past and a unique feature that can never be reconstructed.  

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I too find it inconceivable that anyone could even entertain the idea of filling in the fitting-out basin.

It, and the Titan Crane, are the only reasons why I would want to visit Clydebank at all! The Titan Crane would become pretty meaningless without the adjacent basin -- but with it, it is still possible to imagine something of the industry and the hugeness of the construction that went on here in times gone by.

If Clydebank wants to develop itself and become more attractive, the first thing must be to work with the assets it already has -- and the crane and basin are the foremost among these.

Perhaps the old gate into John Browne's should also be preserved? It is sad enough that everything behind that gate has been demolished...

Surely complaining about the fact that Britain is no longer constructing ships makes no sense if at the same time nothing is being done to sustain a sense of pride in the skills and the investments that made this great tradition possible while it lasted.

[Rob Lightbody]

I went along tonight, and was very disappointed indeed.  Yes there are potential plans to partially or completely fill in the fitting out basin.

Britain is becoming a country of identikit Huge supermarkets with huge concrete carparks and attached large petrol stations and, yes, thats whats in store for the site of the greatest shipyard in the world.  There appears to be little room for heritage or history, and just a huge desire to "redevelop" the site at any cost.

I genuinely find the site much, much more interesting and attractive as it is now, than as proposed.  I realise I am not a resident of Clydebank, and therefore maybe my views count for little.  But this is a town with a huge amount of its character either erased by war, or erased by poor planning decisions, and it looks to me set to decision.

Come to Clydebank - home of a really big Asda!  You'll Love it!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

That seems like a nightmare coming true...

What was the response of the rest of the participants? Did you feel you were getting some support for your views?