Families fight to get back home
Families evacuated after restaurant roof collapses in bitter wrangle over repairs to their tenement close
RESIDENTS left homeless after a roof collapse are still waiting to return home two years later.
A 12ft wall collapsed at a restaurant in Partick and flat owners and nearby businesses were evacuated.
Now, a dispute over the proposed demolition of one of the buildings – a restaurant – is causing delays in getting back in.
WEST End residents “exiled” from their homes after the roof of an Italian restaurant collapsed are still waiting to return, almost two years later.
Passers-by narrowly escaped injury in August 2016 after a 12ft parapet wall at La Riviera restaurant in Benalder Street, Partick, crumbled on to the street below.
Flat owners were evacuated and adjoining shops and businesses, including the Dolphin pub, were also ordered to leave.
Almost two years on, owners are still not back in their homes due to a longrunning and bitter dispute over the demolition and rebuild of the restaurant and essential repairs to the tenement close.
The dispute centres on liability for the costs of the rebuilding of the restaurant.
The owner of the restaurant building, David Martyn, was opposed to the demolition and wanted repairs to be carried out but it was eventually ordered by Glasgow City Council because the building was deemed structurally unsafe and no action had been taken.
Court proceedings were launched by the restaurant owner and the dispute is now in the hands of arbitrators, with a decision expected on June 11.
Meanwhile, according to the restaurant owner, repairs to the stairwell of the building have been suspended “indefinitely” by factors Hacking and Paterson because of an apparent error in the design plan.
The 14 flat owners have already paid for repairs to the stairwell, about £70,000, as well as thousands of pounds for structural surveys and have faced months of uncertainty and upheaval due to being forced out of their homes.
They could now also be forced to pay for the cost of rebuilding the Italian restaurant if this is the decision favoured by the arbitrators.
Flat owners each own around 3.5 per cent of the building, the restaurant owner 21%, the Dolphin pub 23% and each of the shops the remaining balance.
Pawel Kaczyski and his wife have spent the last 22 months rotating their stay at relatives’ homes.
He said: “At this point I’m just left here wondering whether we will be ‘celebrating’ two years of exile in August or not.
“There are construction works happening right now, to fix the back wall and provide stair access to the flats, but it’s taking much longer than I think it should.
“I think we’re not going to be back this or next month either.
“I don’t have any more mental strength nor resilience to keep a keen eye on what’s going on with the building,
“I’m just seeing further and further dates being thrown as weeks and months pass by.
“There are some dealings and arguments concerning the responsibility for the costs incurred but I can’t comment on that.
“We don’t feel responsible for what transpired. It’s a very disappointing situation.”
Mr Martyn said: “A new stairwell was to be built and all the money was collected to total of £80,000 and they had started to built it.
“Then, just this week, all the owners got a letter from the factors, Hacking and Paterson, saying there had been an error in the drawings for the staircase and the work is being suspended for an indefinite period.
“I have cooperated with the building of the staircase. I’m hopeful it can be built soon.
“It went to arbitration and all the legal representations were made to the arbitrators and she will give her decision on June 11 about who is liable for the cost of the rebuild of the restaurant.”
Hacking and Paterson has faced criticism following claims it was made aware of problems at the building, more than a year before the roof collapsed.
Investigations found vital structural steel beams had completely corroded by the time it fell.
A council spokeswoman said: “The work under way is being undertaken by contractors employed by the affected tenement and commercial owners.
“The timescale is in their hands.
“The council is on site offering expert advice and any necessary approvals when completed.
“We’re satisfied so far with the standard of work.”
No one from Hacking and Paterson was available for comment.
We don’t feel responsible for what transpired. It’s a very disappointing situation