Reduced to ashes
Now council probe Glassingall House demolition
Investigations are being carried out by Stirling Council following the demolition and fire at Stagecoach tycoon Dame Anne Gloag’s Glassingall Estate north of Dunblane.
The local authority told the Observer that no building warrant for the demolition of Glassingall House on the estate had been sought and it is looking into the matter.
Dame Ann is donating land to Active Stirling for a proposed outward bound centre at the estate with 135 chalets. A proposal of application notice (PAN) for the scheme was submitted last summer.
Work to raze Glassingall House took place on Thursday, June 11, followed by a large fire the following day, the smoke from which could be seen in Dunblane three miles away. Nearby residents complained of dark, acrid smoke covering the area for most of the day.
Fire engines and police were called to the scene but no one was injured.
Some Glassingall residents had to leave their homes to avoid the smoke and they also spoke of restrictions to allow fire appliances access to the area throughout the Friday and Saturday.
A Stirling Council spokesperson said this week: “We are aware of the demolition works at Glassingall Estate and can confirm investigations are underway.
“Demolition works of this nature are subject to statutory processes and require permission from the planning authority, in this case Stirling Council.
“We can confirm no building warrant for demolition was requested from or issued by Stirling Council in relation to this work and we have taken immediate measures to ensure the site is safe.
“We are in discussions with the landowner regarding the submission of a building warrant to regulate the works already undertaken and to cover the completion of the remaining unauthorised work.”
A Glassingall Estate s p o k e s p e r s o n s a i d : “A thorough review of the events over June 11 to 13 is being conducted, liaising closely with relevant stakeholders.
“In the meantime we are taking all the appropriate measures and actions to secure the site and rectify matters as quickly as possible.
“We will ensure the points raised by residents are covered within this review and we will share the outcome with them as soon as the process is complete.
“As always we are committed to ongoing dialogue with local residents in response to any concerns they may have.”
Dame Ann said the Glassingall Estate Ltd and Active Stirling plans “will bring back life and economic activity to the idyllic grounds of the Glassingall Estate creating much needed rural jobs and providing a unique destination that will allow all its visitors to escape from the cities and explore this beautiful part of Scotland.”
No building warrant for demolition was requested from or issued by Stirling Council