Monday September 7th 2026
The former public toilets at St Vincent Place, Glasgow, where ornate cast-iron panels were damaged during demolition work.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Damaged ornate panels from public toilets at St Vincent Place are expected to go on display once they have been repaired, after a new contractor was brought in to complete the project.
Cast iron railings were smashed “to pieces” last week, despite a council order that they should be preserved. Work was stopped after Councillor Ruairi Kelly, SNP and the council’s convener for built heritage, learned of the damage.
Contractors were on site as part of a scheme to remove the toilets to “declutter” the area and open up the public space.
Cllr Kelly previously said the iron works would be recovered and he was in talks with Glasgow City Heritage Trust about finding an organisation to help restore the panels for future use.
In an update on the project, a council spokesman said: “It is regrettable that the contractor responsible for the demolition did not do so in accordance with the original instructions to carefully take down and remove the railings from site.
“The contractor responsible has now been removed from the project and Glasgow City Council has arranged for specialist contractors to continue the works as originally planned.
“The materials that remain on site will be carefully removed and relocated to a secure storage location where a detailed assessment of their heritage importance and condition can be carried out and any required repair works undertaken.”
He added: “Thereafter, the materials will be made available to an appropriate organisation who will ensure that they are available for display.”
Extra costs for any “remedial works” required after the incident will be “appropriately apportioned in accordance with the contract terms and conditions”, the spokesman said.
It is understood the railings were once used at the old Glasgow Cross station.
A council report in June had stated officials were “aware of strong market interest to develop the existing public toilet site at St Vincent Place for an alternative use”.
It added options were being investigated with Healthmatic Ltd, the council’s public toilet provider, to “exit this location by March 31, 2027, and make the land available for future development”.
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