A UK town dubbed “Scotland’s Chernobyl” has won the infamous Carbuncle Award for the “most dismal” town. Port Glasgow, known for its shipping history, has been given the Plook on the Plinth trophy, with Urban Realm, the architecture journal behind the awards, describing it as an area of “squandered potential”. The awards have been reinstated after a decade away after facing criticism for causing harm to already struggling towns.
Previous winners of the Plook on the Plinth trophy include Cumbernauld, Glenrothes and Aberdeen. However, editor John Glenday has brought them back this year in a bid to encourage councils to think more carefully about urban redevelopment. Port Glasgow was highlighted this year due to the demolition of Clune Park – an abandoned housing scheme dubbed “Scotland’s Chernobyl”.
Mr Glenday said: “Look beyond the grey walls, rubble and boarded-up windows to long vistas and you will see the beauty of the place, still punctuated by the grandeur of the library.
“Unfortunately, the immediate environment fails to do justice to what could and should be a jewel in the Clyde’s crown.”
According to Urban Realm, the Inverclyde town had “fallen the furthest” out of the other nominees. They added that Port Glasgow is “dominated” by a run-down retail park and dual carriageway which “dulls the senses while sucking life from the town centre”.
In response to the trophy, Scottish Labour-led Inverclyde Council said it was “disappointing” for Port Glasgow to receive the “so-called award”, accusing the judges of “not doing their homework”.
Drew McKenzie, Provost of Inverclyde, said: “It’s ironic that Port Glasgow has been bestowed this ‘honour’ at a time of transformation and celebration for the town – and in the town’s 250th anniversary year, which saw record crowds gather to celebrate the past, present and future of the town.”
He continued: “Sadly this ‘study’ focuses on a few very specific areas but Port Glasgow is so much more. The fact that these ‘awards’ have been missing without notice for a decade speaks for itself.
“There aren’t many places that boast a town centre with award-winning businesses, a recently restored building from the 1700s, a successful retail park, a castle, the last commercial shipyard on the Lower Clyde, a famous sculpture, first-class transport links by road, rail, air and sea, a swimming pool, new housing, and wonderful outdoor spaces all surrounded by breathtaking views – and that’s just one area.”