A senior fire service officer has branded a Perth building at the centre of a repairs row “unstable”.
Safety concerns have been raised over the block at Main Street and East Bridge Street in Bridgend.
A damaged supporting wall at the rear of the building has been described as posing a “real threat to life” by angry shop owner Elena Costella, who runs her Yarn and Fibre Studio in Main Street.
Her concerns have been shared by Ewan Baird, Perth fire station manager with Scottish Fire and Rescue, who confirmed that he has notified fellow firefighters that he deems the building “unstable”.
Mr Baird added: “We have firefighters who come to Perth from Dundee so I flagged this up to them as I have to look out for the health and safety of colleagues.
“The building is unstable but Perth and Kinross Council do seem to be making headway in dealing with it.”
Ms Costella told The Courier she believes the damaged supporting wall and gable at the back of the properties in Main Street and East Bridge Street should be dealt with by Perth and Kinross Council as it is in danger of collapsing entirely.
A supporting wall collapsed in December and deteriorated to such a degree that it was declared unsafe for residents in East Bridge Street, who were given one week’s notice to evacuate the building in July.
The local authority also erected fencing around the gable walls and the partially- collapsed supporting wall.
However, Ms Costella wants to know if the building has been made secure from children, squatters and anyone else who may be tempted to enter it.
She is also asking the council if a firm of contractors has been appointed to undertake the works, and, if so, when this work will commence.
“I am absolutely sure work would have started if this building was in the public eye,” she told The Courier.
She continued: “I truly fail to understand why Perth and Kinross Council did not notify the fire service, given that the wall and building have been in this condition since December 22 2012.
“During their visits this week, the fire service expressed a very real and urgent need to know of the dangers they may face, over and above the everyday risks they have to take.
“The building as it currently stands poses a real threat to life.”
Ms Costella said she finds it “hard to believe” that nothing has happened, given the state of the building.
“I am truly worried about it,” she went on.
“My premises were ruined by the flood two years ago. I can now foresee the back of my shop being destroyed by tons of masonry and yet nothing is being done to even secure the building while decisions are being made.”
In a written response to Ms Costella, seen by The Courier, Gordon Lindsay, building standards manager with Perth and Kinross Council’s planning and regeneration department, said the local authority considers that it has met its legal obligations.
He added: “We are actively seeking to undertake work in default as quickly as possible we are very conscious that another winter is fast approaching. There is no doubt the process is taking longer than had been hoped. This is due to the complexity of the site.
“The council take health and safety extremely seriously, not only for those in the immediate vicinity but also for those who would be undertaking the work, so a contract can’t be awarded until a safe plan of action is in place.
“We are advised that the consultants are awaiting one final return to allow them to complete their report.”