Council officials have demanded security be installed at an historic fire ravaged building after the second blaze within months.
Firefighters tackled flames ripping through the roof of the former Prince and Princess of Wales hospice at Carlton Place last week.
The fire at the B-listed property was deliberate according to police. Another smaller fire took hold in January at the site, which lies off Bridge Street.
We had previously reported in April how there were claims drug users had moved into the property at Carlton Place.
Glasgow City Council officers say they met with the owner before both fires in December who agreed to undertake “basic maintenance” to ensure it remained wind and watertight while conversion work stalled to refurbish it into flats and holiday lets.
The council gave an update on discussions after Southside Central councillor Soryia Siddique asked what is being done to safeguard the property.
After January’s fire a number of other visits were undertaken by council officers and the owner was asked to improve security according to information from the local authority.
The council said in an update to Labour councillor Siddique following last week’s blaze that they have written to the owner asking for the installation of “a temporary roof on the structure immediately to ensure that the structure is able to dry out and to arrest water ingress into the building.”
The officers also requested the owner to “confirm that overnight security on site and/or 24 hour continuous security is installed to ensure the site is monitored”.
Councillor Siddique added: “I have arranged another cross – party Bridge Street Regeneration meeting. The administration must prioritise regeneration of the area. It is unacceptable that these heritage buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair one after another despite being raised by local residents, businesses, and at full council. For these buildings, time is of the essence, and there must be an urgent time sensitive plan in place to protect what is left as a priority.”
Govanhill resident Eddie McGonnell, who was born and raised in the Gorbals called for legislation to be introduced to fine landlords who don’t do enough to protect historic properties they own.
He said they should be fined on a regular basis if they do not put in place an immediate plan with suitable timescales to restore buildings to formal glory.
He added: “We have a £115 million pound avenue project ongoing in the city just now. Why can’t some of this money be diverted to such a prestigious part of our city as Carlton Place as a matter of urgency. Is it because there are no bicycle races along it and thereby no publicity for the council?”
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Council planning and building standards officers are in regular contact with owners of heritage buildings around their condition and any proposals for them. Our planning team wrote to the owner (of the Carlton Place property) following the most recent fire encouraging them to take steps to avoid any further damage to the building, and we await their detailed response to this.
“We do not have powers to apply monetary sanctions in such situations.”
The fire at Carlton Place comes after the nearby India Buildings have had to be demolished after being deemed unsafe.
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