ART SCHOOL FIRM’S FIRE SAFETY FAILINGS
Contractor was blasted for problems with past project
THE main contractor behind the restoration of the Glasgow School of Art was blasted for fire safety failings on a previous project.
However, bosses at Kier Construction insist heat and smoke detectors – as well as guards – had been installed at the Mackintosh building prior to Friday’s fire.
Kier Construction was slammed after an independent inquiry into the infamous DG One Complex project, in Dumfries.
DOZENS of residents could be facing weeks out of their homes following the second fire at the Glasgow School of Art in four years as fire chiefs vowed to identify the cause of the blaze.
Garnethill community leaders met with Sandra White MSP, yesterday, to voice their concerns and demand answers over the ‘lack of communication’ from agencies working in the aftermath of the blaze.
The MSP for Glasgow Kelvin said she had submitted a list question to the Scottish Parliament regarding plans for the displaced residents.
She said: “We need to take ownership and decide what is best for the people living here.
“People have been moved right outside the city centre without access to clean clothes or belongings, and have no idea when they will be allowed back.
“Some people don’t have money to take time off work or pay for a hotel so it’s a worrying situation.
“I’ve been assured there will be a resilience committee set up which will involve a direct number for people to call but there will be a lot of waiting around for answers.”
Community council leaders in Garnethill spoke of their shock as the blaze took hold said: “We feared the whole of hill was going to go up.”
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue chiefs said they were confident they would discover how Friday night’s blaze started but stressed the “very complex” investigation would take time. Four appliances remained at the scene at midday yesterday.
A number of roads remain closed to traffic “for the forseeable future” including Sauchiehall Street, Hill Street, Dalhousie Street, Renfrew Street and Garnethill Street.
More than 20 residents living on Dalhousie Street are among those facing an uncertain future, along with the O2 ABC and Campus nightclub and a number of small businesses confined within the cordon including Coro, Chocolate Cafe and Steak, Cattle and Roll.
One husband and wife said they have been put up a hotel in the West End after spending Friday night sleeping on their daughter’s floor.
Another resident was forced to flee without their pet cat - later rescued by the fire brigade.
Francis McKee and Alex Misick of the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), said the livelihood of 22 businesses and shops inside the centre was under threat. The building was expected to remain closed for another week.
Mr Misick said: “We’ve not heard anything so far and we’re just desperate to get back in or at least get an realistic expectation of when we will.
“The situation on Sauchiehall Street was already so fragile and now this could put a lot more pressure on it.
“We opened a new exhibition on Friday, it was only open for three hours and we’ve got an international conference in the coming weeks with people flying in from around the world. There’s a lot at stake.”
Garnet- bank Primary opened yesterday and the school said pupils living in the vicinity of the fire would be offered support. In a statement the school said: “Thinking of our families who live near the fire. It must have been a scary night for some. We’ll be giving out hugs on Monday morning and will be there for a chat if anyone needs it. 2 major fires locally recently is a lot for little people (and big ones too).” St Aloysius school was closed yesterday and it was unclear if it would re-open today. In a statement the O2 ABC bosses said: “Our venue remains under the control of the emergency services with whom we are in constant dialogue since the fire at the GSA broke out. “We are working as quickly as possible to move or reschedule forthcoming events to alternative venues in the city with the minimum disruption and prioritise immediate shows taking place. Jane Sutherland, Chair of the Garnethill Community Council, added: “None of us can understand how this has happened again.
“We were all in the streets on Friday absolute shock. At one point I thought the whole hill was going to go up.
“The building can be rebuilt but people lives and the small businesses can’t.
“All the agencies should be working together to make sure the disruption to people’s lives is as minimal as possible.
“An inspection of the gable wall over the weekend seemed to suggest that it might not be good news.
“As for the businesses, we’re really worried. The Avenues Project has created disruption but we thought it was only temporary – we assume that will be put on hold.
“Everyone needs answers and as of right now, we’re not getting any.”
Leader of Glasgow City Council Cllr Susan Aitken said: “Our Resilience team worked with staff from the Health and Social Care Partnership and Cordia to establish a rest centre at the Mitchell Library in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“Temporary accommodation was arranged for a those evacuated by the emergency
services and that remains in place.
“However, we are conscious that there are people who initially made their own arrangements, or who may have been out of the city at the weekend, who could still need advice or temporary accommodation.”
The council said only 11 residents attended its rest centre but understood after properties in Dalhousie Street, Pitt Street, Sauchiehall Street and Renfrew Street.
While a Sauchiehall Street task force was deployed to tackle problems for businesses.
Cllr Aitken added: “Our Business Support team has spent the day contacting as many businesses as they can to assess and understand the challenges they are facing.
“In many cases, the immediate problem is access - which unfortunately is unavoidable while the emergency response is ongoing.
“However, there is a process by which businesses who are in an exclusion zone can apply for a zero rating on business rates, for the period in which they can’t operate.
“I’m encouraging anyone in that position to apply – and our officers will be able to give advice on how to do that.”