Eglinton Toll’s famous Plaza dance hall is to be demolished to make way for flats. Developers South Place Homes Ltd, plan to build 76 new flats on the site of the former ballroom.

Robert Stevenson, managing director of South Place Homes, said, ‘It is an important location at Eglinton Toll. We see the Plaza as a landmark building, linking the Southside to the City Centre. Unfortunately the building has decayed and the cost of retaining it would outweigh the cost of a  new development. But we have taken a conscious decision to retain the red sandstone façade with the new building rising behind it.’ The flats will be a mix of one and two bedroom apartments, complete with car parking,

The Plaza ballroom was opened in 1922, and was instrumental in shaping Glasgow’s image as ‘The Dancing City’. The Southside dance hall was one of the best attended of Glasgow’s 30 dance halls - a total unrivalled even by London  in the 1950s and 60s.

When it opened, The Plaza was state-of-the-art, with a sprung floor, multi-coloured lighting system and a fountain.

Dot Denholm, Secretary of Laurieston Community Council, said, ‘Some of the women on the Community Council used to go to the Plaza when they were younger. They say it’s a shame such a lovely ballroom is being knocked down to make way for flats.’

Nicola Fisher, local resident and former secretary of Govanhill and Crosshill Community Council, expressed her concern at the lack of facilities to go with the new homes, ‘They’re building all of these new flats, but no-one is building the amenities to go with them.

‘It looks like we’re going to be saturated with new homes and families, but have nothing for those families to do.’

Her concerns were echoed by former Community Council Chair, Eddie Docherty, who said, ‘We are not against people coming into the area and regenerating it. Our only concern is that it will put pressure on local amenities.’

He added, ‘It will be a shame to see the Plaza go. It is a local landmark.’

The developers are already ‘on-site’ demolishing and clearing away the old, unlisted dance hall. Mr Stevenson, whose company is in Prestwick, said that the work would take two years to complete.