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13 March 2006

AN investigation into the collapse of a cinema ceiling at the new £70million Xscape leisure complex could take several days.

Construction work on part of the Braehead building has been suspended until the investigation by Health and Safety Executive officials is completed.

An HSE spokesman said the collapse, which happened around 4pm on Tuesday, had been "a significant incident".

He added: "It is likely to take several days. The whole ceiling came in and we need to try and identify the underlying cause."

The cinema is a 500-seater auditorium and is one of 12 screens planned for the Xscape project. An indoor ski slope and bowling alley are also part of the complex.

The construction firm behind the building is Laing O'Rourke. The company was also responsible for the ceiling of the Scottish Parliament's debating chamber, where a beam broke loose last week.


Possible delay to opening?
Talks are taking place between Laing O'Rourke and Xscape owners XLeisure over the planned opening on April 6. It is due to be attended by 10,000 people, but there are fears it could be delayed.

A spokeswoman for Xscape said: "Until we have the outcome of the investigation we can't give further details."

When the Xscape complex opens, it will become one of Scotland's top leisure centres and will have a 200-metre indoor real snow slope. Around 1000 jobs are being created at the development

Sixteen snow-guns will fire cooled water into air that has been chilled to -20C to create 1500 tonnes of snow.