November 22 2007

With just four days of voting left, nominations have been pouring in for this year’s Carbuncle Awards, despite organisers architecturescotland and Prospect being branded snobs by sections of the press and local councils currently under the spotlight.

The three front runners for the less-than-coveted title of ‘Plook on the Plinth’ are the Glasgow Springfield Quay, three-time winner Cumbernauld and Coatbridge Town Centre.

Editor of www.architecturescotland.co.uk and Prospect magazine, Penny Lewis, said: “It’s rather depressing that local politicians respond to the Carbuncle awards by labeling us, the organizers, as snobs. I don’t understand why they don’t just say “It's true, we have a problem with our town centre." The carbuncle awards are not an insult to local people, in fact most of the nominations come from locals.

"We have to face facts - the character of the main street in many of Scotland’s towns is changing. There is a pattern emerging of shoddy retail parks and supermarkets on the periphery and town centres populated by dilapidated buildings and pound shops. Badly conceived, but expensive, pedestrianisation schemes and other poor planning decisions are often compounding these problems. We are not having a laugh at the expense of the frustrated residents, but trying to provoke a debate about how we move forward. Some politicians are very complacent.”

Voting will close at midday on Sunday 25 November and the winner will be announced at 9.30am in the most dismal place on Monday 26 November.  To resister your vote, click here.

‘Plook on the plinth’ shortlist

Glasgow Springfield Quay
Glasgow Oatlands
Coatbridge Town Centre
Cumbernauld Town Centre
Granton Harbour
Cumnock

Most Disappointing Building

Morrisons, Paisley
Antonine Centre, Cumbernauld
Casino, Springfield Quay, Glasgow
Etap Hotel, Springfield Quay, Glasgow
Shields Road Car Park, Glasgow

Worst Planning Decision

Silverburn Pollok
Glasgow Harbour
Ravenscraig
Granton
Hoover factory Cambuslang
Tescos Partick

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