Residents evacuated as Storm Malik sparks fears for Glasgow's Old Trinity College

An “exclusion zone” has been set up around Old Trinity College, in the Park Circus area of the city, and the surrounding area over worries that existing structural issues may be exacerbated by Storm Malik, which has seen winds of more than 100mph reported in parts of Scotland.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said residents can expect to be out of their homes for “considerably longer than 24 hours”, although he would not be drawn on how long.

A rest centre has been set up at the nearby Kelvin Hall to help those who have been affected.

The council spokesman said: “There’s three towers on the building… the condition of that had deteriorated to the point where the owner’s contractors and our building standards team thought immediate evacuation was necessary.

“As it stands, those residents who are needing support are directed to the rest centre at the Kelvin Hall.”

He added: “Residents are likely to be out for some time.”

When pressed on how long that could mean, the spokesman said it would be “considerably longer than 24 hours”.

It is understood the owners of the building were seeking to address cracks that already existed in the building’s towers before the storm hit.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Around 12.55pm on Saturday 29 January 2022, police assistance was sought from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to assist with traffic management at Lynedoch Street, Glasgow (near Park Circus).

“The Fire Service is currently dealing with an unsafe structure and officers are in attendance due to several roads being closed. A number of properties are also being evacuated.”

The fire service confirmed two appliances had been sent to the scene.

Police were called to the building last year – which was previously used as a training school for Church of Scotland ministers – when stone fell from one of the towers, according to the Glasgow Times.