They have named and shamed Scotland’s most dismal towns and worst architecture for almost 20 years but the Carbuncle awards themselves are heading for the wrecking ball.
The controversial contest was created in 2000 to allow frustrated citizens to vent their fury at the country’s ugliest eyesores and most ill-judged planning decisions.
Over the years the unwanted accolade has drawn attention to the plight of ailing post-industrial towns such as Cumbernauld, Airdrie, Glenrothes, Linwood and Coatbridge.
Organisers insist the awards have been a force for good but believe it is no longer appropriate to single out struggling communities at a time of continuing austerity and economic uncertainty. Instead they plan to launch a more compassionate contest where towns are offered assistance rather than being publicly castigated and presented with the Plook on the Plinth trophy.
John Glenday, the editor of Urban Realm, the architecture journal which organised the awards, confirmed that the Carbuncles were no more.
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“We feel the time is right to relaunch and rebrand,” Mr Glenday said. “The idea is to re-energise things and make it more relevant.”
He added: “We want to make it more positive, more of a tool to kick start regeneration.”
However, Mr Glenday insisted that the Carbuncles had already helped to accelerate positive change by shaming councils into taking action.
He said: “In New Cumnock, for example, there have been some remarkable changes since it was named Scotland’s most dismal town in 2013.
“The town hall which was derelict has been renovated and the lido, one of the last in Scotland, was reopened by Prince Charles just the other month.
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“Most people had never heard of it, or its plight, until the Carbuncles brought it to national attention.”
Elaine Smith, a Labour MSP for Central Scotland, has railed against the awards at Holyrood, however, branding them “cynical and nasty”.
She said last night: “It’s long past time that the organisers recognised how damaging they actually have been, in particular for towns who are striving to move on from the ravages of their industrial heritage.
“At last they seem to have recognised the negative, damaging effect it has caused and called a halt to the charade.”