A DECISION to give a towering city gasworks listed building status has split local people.

Historic Environment Scotland has decided to give two gas holders next to the Forth and Clyde Canal a B listing.

That puts them in the same category as Kelvin Hall, George V Bridge, the Citizens Theatre, Ibrox Stadium, the Mitchell Library and the Southern Necropolis.

Gas holder number four, which is 136ft high, was build in 1893 and was the third largest in the world.Its neighbour, which is 146ft tall, was built seven years later.

They were constructed for the Corporation of Glasgow gas department on the former Temple Gasworks which was the second largest gasworks in Britain.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries Glasgow was a thriving industrial city with a world famous iron, steel and shipping industry.

There was an ever increasing demand for gas to cater to the city's intensive industrial output as well as its hugely expanding population's need for gas at home.

Historic Environment Scotland says: “The paring of number four gasholder with number five gasholder of this size is now rare with the only comparable site remaining at Provan in the north of Glasgow.

“These structures are one of the last remaining examples of the 19th and early 20th century gas industry in Scotland and a reminder of the former industrial use of the site.

“The pair of gasholders are a striking example of historic industrial infrastructure and are a rare survival.

“They are also a monument to the once massive scale of the gas industry in Glasgow and in Scotland.

“The gasholders are a local landmark visible from nearby roads and vantage points.”

However, the decision to consider them for listing split local people down the middle.

Kelvindale community council informed city residents of the plan and was taken aback by the response.

Vice chairman Ken Windsor said: “We had a fantastic response but it was 50/50 and became very controversial.

“Some thought they were monstrosities and that the land should be used for other purposes.

“Others were vehemently for them because they are a landmark and thought they should be preserved.

“The community council only acted as an information point to let people know they might be listed.”