AN appeal has been made to the Scottish Secretary to intervene to

delay the demolition of the 20-storey blocks of Gorbals flats designed

by the late Sir Basil Spence.

Docomomo-UK, an international working party for the documentation and

conservation of buildings of the modern movement, says in a letter to Mr

Ian Lang that it considers the flats to be of architectural significance

in national terms.

It argues that, even if conservation of the entire estate is

considered impractical, the smaller of the two blocks should be

conserved if possible.

The 400 flats, opened by the Queen in 1963, are due to be blown up on

September 13. They feature in the current exhibition at the Royal

Incorporation of Architects in Scotland gallery in Edinburgh.

Mr Dennis Sharp, the chairman of Docomomo-UK, urges Mr Lang not to

miss the chance of preserving at least one block as a record of a ''very

dramatic architectural conception''.

There have been attempts to find alternative users for the flats. One

possibility, the YMCA, has decided it is unable to pursue its interest.