GSA collapse fear as public told: Keep out
THE burnt-out shell of the Glasgow School of Art could collapse ‘without warning’, council chiefs have said.
Fire destroyed the iconic Mackintosh Building in the early hours of Saturday, four years after it was gutted in another blaze.
The structure was secure enough to be assessed by a team of experts on Monday. Following the assessment, GSA director Professor Tom Inns said it was ‘not beyond saving’.
Building control officers and Historic Environment Scotland have been comparing the state of the building with a detailed 3D digital scan to establish the extent of the damage to its sandstone walls.
But last night, council chiefs warned it was ‘essential’ that people
‘Significant concern’
observe an exclusion zone, which remains in place to protect public safety.
Raymond Barlow, head of building control at Glasgow City Council, said: ‘We have had reports of people breaching the cordon and we have many requests from displaced residents to access their properties.
‘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 that there is a risk that parts of the building might fall into Scott Street or Dalhousie Street. This could happen without warning.’
Mr Barlow added: ‘Our number one priority is public safety, and it is therefore simply too dangerous to allow anyone to access the site.
‘Working with GSA and His official toric Environment Scotland we are devising a methodology to allow us to examine the building up close. However, it will be at least the early part of next week before we are able to do that.’
The building was undergoing a major restoration project, costing up to £35million, when last week’s fire broke out.
The Scottish and UK governments said they are ready to provide financial support for reconstruction. But earlier this week, experts said the bill to restore the GSA could soar past £100million.
Fire chiefs stressed the ‘very complex’ investigation into the blaze will take time.
The incident has led to calls for a public inquiry amid anger that one of Scotland’s most prized architectural treasures, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, has been seriously damaged by fires twice in the space of a few years. An investigation found that the 2014 blaze began when a projector ignited gases from foam used in a student project.
Earlier this week, business owners affected by the enforced shutdown of the surrounding area said they felt ‘isolated’ and like an ‘afterthought’. About 40 met council representatives to discuss the issue. A business rates relief scheme has been agreed by the local authority.