THE cordon surrounding Glasgow School of Art could be reduced within the next two weeks.

Work to stabilise the east gable of the Mackintosh Building is nearing completion, according to bosses.

Specialist scaffolders have been working seven days a week to ensure that the Dalhousie Street end of the building is safe and stable.

Work to remove dangerous masonry from across the whole building is also nearly completed in all zones except the library tower.

Initial safety work on the O2 ABC has been completed and the crane will now move to the corner of Scott Street and Sauchiehall Street to gain access to the west end of the south façade and the west gable.

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The news is hoped to provide relief for those displaced from their homes and businesses following the fire.

A number of residents living on Dalhousie Street and surrounding areas, have been unable to gain access to their homes following the fire in June.

About 350 business owners and staff, and an estimated 67 local residents remain unable to return to their homes.

Professor Tom Inns, Director of The Glasgow School of Art, said: "The shoring scaffolding on Dalhousie Street, which is the critical part of the work to make the east gable safe, is on schedule for completion in the next two weeks.

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“After this we hope very much that Glasgow City Council Building Control will reduce the size of the security cordon.”

“We continue to work seven days a week to make the whole of the Mackintosh Building stable as soon as possible so that the community can return to their homes and businesses.

"Our primary focus to date has been on the east gable and south façade which are most significantly impacting on the community, but following initial safety work on the ABC O2 we have now begun dismantling the dangerous parts of the west gable in earnest."