OWNERS who leave buildings at risk of fire or collapse should face tougher action from the council an MSP has said.

Following the fire at Carlton Place on the south bank of the River Clyde, Paul Sweeney is writing to the council to ask for a more “pro-active” approach to force owners to take greater responsibility.

He was speaking after the former Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice building went on fire for the second time this year.

READ NEXT:Glasgow firefighters still working on Carlton Place fire

(Image: Gordon Terris)

As we reported yesterday, 999 crews were pictured battling flames on Carlton Place, in the Gorbals area of the city after the vacant three-storey building overlooking the River Clyde caught fire.

On January 27, we reported a fire at a nearby property in the same terrace.

The flames were extinguished and police revealed the remnants of an old cannabis cultivation were found within the building.

The MSP said the B-listed building is architecturally important and should be a showcase and needs to be protected.

Sweeney, said: “There was a fire in January in the same building.

“It has been used as a squat by vulnerable people and also associated with some of the anti-social behaviour that goes on in the area.

“I am embarrassed as a Glaswegian at the continuing obvious decline.

“I know the council says the responsibility is with the owners.

“They began demolition of buildings at the back and left it exposed with no manned security, which left it vulnerable.”

READ NEXT: Images show aftermath of Glasgow Carlton Place fire

He said Carlton Place has gone from being architecturally sound six years ago when the hospice moved out to now being one of the most at-risk buildings in the city.

The MSP wants to ensure it is not left in the current state and ends up in an even worse state.

He said: “How quickly it can unravel.

He said for owners who leave buildings vulnerable the council should get tough.

“I would like to see the planning powers used more effectively. The council can carry out repairs and then bill the owners or take on a Compulsory Purchase Order.

“This Georgian terrace could be a real showpiece for Glasgow. We should be celebrating it not be embarrassed by it.

“I would like to see the council being more aggressively pro-active in tackling owners.”

He added the rules on VAT need changed where renovation carries 20% VAT but demolition doesn’t.

The MSP added: “Thousands of Glaswegians will have been touched by the building when it was the Prince and Princes of Wales Hospice.”

Fire crews remained on the scene the day after the blaze carrying out investigations.

Council officials were also liaising with the investigators and it is not thought the building is in a dangerous state that it requires demolition.

Glasgow City Council has been contacted for comment.