The council’s building standards team were contacted by Police Scotland at the weekend and attended the scene where it was found that an area of stonework from the front elevation of the property had collapsed onto the public footpath and roadway.
Due to the poor condition of the property it has been unoccupied for a number of years. In the interests of public safety and working with Police Scotland and our Road and Infrastructure Services, the council used its statutory powers to close the public footpaths and road in the immediate vicinity, with traffic diversions put in place.
The council’s appointed consultant structural engineer attended the site following the incident. We are awaiting his report and recommendations. In the meantime building standards have been monitoring the situation and will continue to do so with regards to any possible further collapse.
The owners of the property have the responsibility to undertake remedial works/repairs and we are in contact with them to establish their proposals. Failure to do so may result in the council having to use its statutory powers to carry out any works it deems necessary to prevent a further collapse or possible danger to persons in or around the property in the future.
Until such times as we are in a position to either have the owners instruct the necessary works to repair the building to remove any further danger or we instruct necessary works, the road closure and restriction of access to the area will remain in place.