ART SCHOOL WALLS MOVE SIX INCHES
Building could collapse ‘any time’ City leader warns public to stay away
GLASGOW School of Art has moved six inches since the fire, it has been revealed.
Council leader Susan Aitken said part of the building could collapse and, if so, “it could happen with no warning”.
Members of the public are urged not to enter the cordon.
THE Glasgow School of Art has moved six inches in the space of a week and could collapse at any moment.
That was the warning last night from Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken one week after fire tore through the world-renowned building for the second time in four years.
An area surrounding the Mackintosh Building has been sealed off, with more than a dozen businesses affected, including the O2 ABC and Campus, where the roofs caved in.
Ms Aitken yesterday told people to stay away from the sealed off area.
She said: “Our building control officers are saying part of the building has moved quite significantly, about six inches.
“The elevation has shifted. There’s a danger that part of the building may collapse. If that were to happen, it could happen with no warning.
“Therefore it’s very, very important that no one enters the cordon – unless they are an accredited expert.”
Experts had already urged the public to stay away from the gutted building.
Glasgow City Council’s head of building control Raymond Barlow said on Thursday night: “I fully understand people’s desire to get back into their property and if we could safely do anything to facilitate that then we would.
“However, surveys in recent days have shown us that the west and east elevations remain of significant concern.
“This means there is a risk that parts of the building might fall into Scott Street or Dalhousie Street. This could happen without warning.”
At the height of the fire in the early hours of last Saturday, more than 120 firefighters were fighting the blaze.
There were no reports of casualties, although emergency services evacuated properties in the area.
The investigation is a “complex process and will take time,” said fire chiefs.
Meanwhile, Sauchiehall Street traders met on Thursday to form a “business task force.”
They criticised the local authority for a lack of dialogue and urged the council to provide them with more frequent updates.
Building Standards officers will not be able to enter the damaged Glasgow School of Art until at least early next week.
Multiple agencies, including Glasgow City Council, Glasgow School of Art and Historic Environment Scotland, are said to be devising a methodology to allow them to safely examine the building.
CRUEL thieves breached a security cordon to loot for booze in a nightclub next to the Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh building, which was devastated by a fire.
Police Scotland confirmed that they are investigating the theft, which happened at Campus on Sauchiehall Street on Thursday at around 3.20am.
The Evening Times understands that booze was taken during the raid but the quantity or value is unknown.
The thieves, however, would have had to breach the security cordon in place to gain access to the popular student spot.
But the Evening Times understands that on-site security staff interrupted them – and they bolted from the scene.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Inquiries are continuing following a housebreaking at a premises on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow around 3.20am on Thursday, June 22.”
The security breach comes after Glasgow City Council’s building control took over the cordon from the emergency services earlier this week.
Although the cordon was significantly reduced, the public were warned that there remains a risk to safety and were asked to stay from the area.
The local authority said “a substantial” exclusion zone would remain in place for the foreseeable future while they work to establish the condition of buildings involved in the fire including Campus.
Glasgow City Council, however, slammed the thieves who were involved in the looting.
A council spokesman said: “It is appalling that anyone should stoop so low as to loot the site of this tragic incident.
“The cordon is in place to protect public safety – attempting to enter the area was stupid and extremely dangerous.”
“The individual was thwarted by our security contractors and additional measures have also been put in place.”
Last Friday, a devastating fire took hold within The Glasgow School of Art, O2 ABC and adjoining buildings.
At its height, more than 120 firefighters and 20 fire engines were mobilised to the city centre after the alarm was raised at 11.19pm.