Glasgow Times

PAVILION BOSS: I’LL GO TO COURT TO SAVE THEATRE

Manager’s threat of action to rescue venue in fire aftermath

- BY STEWART PATERSON

THE Pavilion Theatre boss has warned he could take legal action as he battles to get inside his building.

Iain Gordon fears demolition work could take longer than three months to complete – putting the venue’s future in danger.

THE boss of the Pavilion Theatre said he is considerin­g legal action to get access to the building to allow him to plan ahead.

He fears it could be September at the earliest before he is able to re-open for business.

The demolition in Sauchiehal­l Street is expected to take three months, however Iain Gordon, Pavilion manager, fears it will take longer.

He said by the time he is allowed back in, he then could have to order new seats and carpets adding months onto the timescale.

He said it will take six to eight weeks to get new seats and carpets plus six weeks to refit.

Mr Gordon said he can’t plan ahead until he is able to assess the scale of the smoke damage to the seats.

Access was allowed to remove equipment to a temporary office.

On legal action, Mr Gordon said: “It is something we are thinking about at the moment.

He added: “But I want a good working relationsh­ip with Building Control.

“I thought they would let us in for long enough to asses the damage and remove a seat and a patch of carpet to be assessed.”

He said there has been no regular updates from the council that would allow him to schedule operation for re-opening.

He has met politician­s in the city to explain his situation.

James Kelly, Labour MSP, said the businesses affected need more support.

He said: “We should not be in a situation where businesses are looking at taking legal action because of how poor the informatio­n from the council has been.

“With no expected end date for those who are in a position to re-open, it is a hugely frustratin­g time.”

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “We have a duty to protect public safety.

“Mr Gordon has been given access to the theatre more than once, but the bottom line is that it stands a few feet away from a building that has been gutted by fire and is on the verge of collapse.

“This is an extremely difficult demolition that will take a significan­t amount of time.

“Expert contractor­s are currently taking down parts of the structure brick-bybrick – and it will not be lost on people that one of the reasons for this painstakin­g approach is to protect surroundin­g buildings, including the theatre.

“Given that challenge, it is simply not possible to say with any certainty when it will be safe to enter.

“As soon as it is, we will share that informatio­n with Mr Gordon – but it would be completely meaningles­s to name a speculativ­e date.”

 ??  ?? Iain Gordon said he can’t plan ahead until he is able to assess the damage caused by the fire
Iain Gordon said he can’t plan ahead until he is able to assess the damage caused by the fire

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