Ghost tower block set to survive as South Ayrshire Council blunder stops flats demolition

dailyrecord.co.uk:

One of Ayr’s iconic High Flats could be handed a dramatic stay of execution, Ayrshire Live can exclusively reveal.Red-faced council chiefs have been forced to call a halt on demolition teams from clearing the riverside site.Two of the famous tower blocks were bulldozed before Christmas as part of work to build new social housing.

But officials have had to slam on the brakes at the third and final skyscraper - due to phone masts they cannot remove from the top of the tower.We told in November how talks were underway aimed at ripping the masts from the top of the block, which belong to telecoms giant EE.The firm was set to receive an inflated pay-off to quit their long term lease on the site.But it's understood those negotiations have stalled – with EE standing firm on the historic contract which grants them access to the plot.The phone company is legally entitled to have its masts at the site until 2025 - and intends to see that out.Council bosses are now faced with the embarrassing prospect of the third and final tower standing in place for at least another two years.They had hoped to clear the site in time for the New Year and start work on the new social housing plot.A total of 90 flats are scheduled to be built on the site of the tower blocks, which boasted 234 homes.Talks are now taking place to try and rescue the scheme, which would see a scaled down number of units built in the shadow of the remaining tower block.It's also understood the council is looking at potential ways to bring the tower block back into use in the interim period, preventing it from being mothballed for up to two years.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the