IT was supposed to be Glasgow's answer to the Eiffel Tower, but in truth its fate has been little more than awful.
But now, at long last, comes news that the Glasgow Tower may soon be reopened and fully operational. A £1.8 million renovation means Scotland's tallest free-standing building will once again be able to turn 360 degrees, affording panoramic views of the city, predicts Dr Stephen Breslin, chief executive of Glasgow Science Centre.
The £9m tower, conceived as a beacon of hope for the 21st-century renaissance of Glasgow's waterfront, has had a pained existence. It has been closed for two years, having operated only intermittently since the science centre opened in 2001. It missed its opening day, as well as a planned official visit by the Queen.
It has been plagued with technical difficulties with its lifts and with its ball bearings, and has been at the centre of lengthy litigation.
Dr Breslin says, however, that engineers and consultants have come up with a solution that will resolve all the issues.
It is good to know that Glasgow's faulty tower will no longer be a laughing stock. We look forward to it being one of the city's star turns.
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