'Grief and loss' as River City town of Shieldinch bought by housebuilder (original) (raw)

The site was bought earlier this year

Scotland’s film and TV community has warned of “grief and loss” as it emerged River City’s fictional town of Shieldinch is set to be demolished after being bought by a house builder.

Glasgow-based Turnberry Homes, which has been behind housing developments in the west of Scotland for 35 years, is understood to have snapped up the Dumbarton Studios site for around £2.1 million.

News of the sale was confirmed earlier this year - however, the identity of the new owner was not previously known.

The BBC announced a year ago that River City would stop filming this April after 24 years, saying there had been a significant change in audience behaviour away from long-running series and towards shorter runs. As well as River City, the site, which was leased by the broadcaster, has hosted a range of film and TV productions since 2008, including Shetland, Still Game and Two Doors Down.

The final episodes of the soap are due to be screened in August.

Actor Stephen Purdon, who played Bob O’Hara in the series from the first episode, said it was the “end of an era”.

He said: “It is quite a sad reality that’s it’s not actually, physically, going to be there. It’s such a great space and for our industry up here to have that kind of space and for it to be taken away is a shame.”

He added: “Talking to the other actors, we have had 24 years of history there and not to be able to visit those places: Montego Street and the beautiful water fountain, the famous Tall Ship pub that were iconic with the show for so many years, and for them to be knocked down and replaced by houses is really quite sad.”

Scotland-based filmmaker Maureen Hascoet, director of Firewalker Pictures, last year revealed plans for a fully funded bid to buy the studios - one of only four full scale production studios in Scotland - to "preserve" it for the film industry.

However, her bid was rejected by owners Westerwood Properties at the last minute in favour of a commercial developer, which was not named at the time.

Stephen Purdon, aka Bob O'Hara, on the last day of filming for River City. | Alan Peebles Photography

Ms Hascoet said: “The buyer being a house builder confirms concerns we had from the beginning, it’s a travesty that this culturally significant site will be demolished.

“I know so many people who took their parents and grandparents out to the River City tour. It becomes a staple in family life and a thing that bonds generations. There’s a sacred element to that that’s being wrecked along with the buildings. There’s grief and loss there. Our industry is so much more than transactional.”

She added: “It raises questions we now need to answer for ourselves about ownership and where investment comes from - we need to invest in our infrastructure otherwise we’re building on quick sand. I was ready to - and it was fully funded, with my lawyers submitting a proof of funding. For some reason we’re still not taken seriously. Our offer was similar so I just don’t know what else I could have done.”

Ms Hascoet, who has previously worked at studios including Ealing and Pinewood in London, said at the time that Westerwood had told her the difference between her offer and that of the other buyer was “marginal”, but that the other company was an “established business”.

Plans have not yet been submitted for the site, however, it is believed it would be big enough for around 100 new homes.

Turnberry Homes, which is also behind the Queenswater Apartments development in Dumbarton, has been contacted for comment.