Perth city centre hit by further storm damage

Property owners under more pressure to safeguard buildings

Further storm damage in Perth city centre has put fresh pressure on property owners to safeguard their buildings.

Fire crews were scrambled to a High Street property after a large section of flashing crashed down on to the pavement.

Part of the street was shut down for nearly an hour while firefighters used a crane to safely remove loose tiles and a wobbly TV aerial.

The incident has prompted calls to clean up the city’s skyline.

It follows the collapse of a chimney stack in St John Street which destroyed a top floor flat and caused major disruption to the ground floor Venue nightclub.

A fundraiser at the award-winning nightspot at the weekend raised more than £700 for resident Caroline Macdonald, who has thanked locals for their generosity and support.

Property owners are facing growing pressure to safeguard historic Perth buildings after fire crews were scrambled to tackle further storm damage in the city centre.

Part of the High Street was locked down by police yesterday morning as firefighters worked to remove hazardous loose slates and a wobbly TV aerial from the roof of a block of flats.

Residents raised the alarm when a section of flashing crashed down on to the pavement between Mill Street and New Row.

The incident comes just a week after a chimney stack collapsed on to a flat above the Venue nightspot on St John Street, causing major damage and disruption.

Two Perth fire crews were called to the top end of the High Street just after 9.30am yesterday.

Police Scotland taped off the thoroughfare as firefighters used a crane to reach the top of a three-storey block.

A fire service spokeswoman said loose flashing, tiles and a TV aerial were safely removed during the 45-minute shutdown.

One resident said: “A large section of roof came down on to the street. It was really worrying to see. If someone was walking underneath at the time, they’d be a goner.”

David MacLehose, chairman of Perth Civic Trust, said the incidents should serve as a stark reminder for owners to inspect and maintain their properties.

The trust recently called for building owners to tidy up their rooftops and remove unsightly weeds and trees growing around chimney stacks.

“It goes to show how important it is that buildings in our city centre are checked and maintained regularly,” said Mr MacLehose.

“That is the responsibility of land and property owners.

“We have problems with shrubbery sprouting from buildings and it shows that, in a lot of cases, further TLC is required.”

Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett said: “Storms Ciara and Dennis serve to emphasise the importance of ensuring that residents keep on top of inspections and communal maintenance issues for roofs, chimneys, gutters and repointing of walls.

“It means owners taking responsibility and being proactive in looking for signs of repairs needing done. That means checking for things like washed out or decayed mortar, loose slates, plant growth in gutters and flashings, stone decay due to cement mortar pointing and loose stonework.”

The Lib Dem councillor said advice on communal maintenance schemes was available from Perth and Kinross Council.

The local authority has encouraged property owners to carry out surveys and maintenance work in the wake of last weekend’s incident.

It goes to show how important it is that buildings in our city centre are checked and maintained regularly.

PERTH CIVIC TRUST CHAIRMAN DAVID MACLEHOSE

Fire crews called to the High Street to remove loose tiles, flashing and a TV aerial from rooftops.