Former provost demands tougher approach to building maintenance 'before someone dies'

URGENT action is needed to prevent people from being injured or killed by debris falling from crumbling Inverness buildings, according to a former city provost.

Councillor Jimmy Gray spoke out in support of Labour colleague and MSP David Stewart who is pressing for a new law compelling property owners to safely maintain their properties.

Mr Stewart is contacting Highland Council chiefs to discuss his idea of regular surveys to gauge wear and tear, and to make owners carry out essential repairs.

His proposal comes just a week after two people narrowly avoided being struck by falling debris in the city centre as Storm Hector hit.

Earlier this year an apprentice stonemason also prevented another potential disaster when he spotted a masonry block hanging loose over Academy Street, apparently pulled loose by a banner attached to it.

This week the Inverness Townscape Heritage project launched a new maintenance guide for owners of traditional properties, setting out key areas for them to consider, including the benefits of regular inspections.

However Cllr Gray suggested a far tougher approach may be necessary.

"We cannot wait until there are serious injuries or deaths before stronger action is taken," he said.

"I’ve been concerned for some time about the condition of buildings not only in Inverness but across Highland.

"We’ve spent years trying to persuade owners of buildings to act responsibly. It hasn’t worked. We need to bring about a cultural change whereby owners take greater care and pride in their properties.

"I believe this will need to be supported by legislation which makes it compulsory for buildings to be checked regularly."

He suggested surveys every three years, adding: "We’ve spent years in and around Inverness trying to persuade the owners of buildings to act responsibly and it hasn’t worked."

Highlands and Islands MSP Mr Stewart was successful in having legislation revised four years ago to allow local authorities to recoup money they spend on serving notices or for work carried out if a building is deemed dangerous.

In January, kiltmakers Duncan Chisholm and Sons in Castle Street was served with a dangerous buildings notice by Highland Council and the local authority appointed contractors to make the building safe. It will recover the costs later.

In March it also ordered building owners with glazed canopies to check they had adequate inspection and maintenance arrangements in place.

This followed incidents at both the Inverness and Inshes retail parks in 2017 and earlier this year where panels fell from their fixings, in one case resulting in a shopper having stitches to his head after being hit with broken glass.

Mr Stewart said: "Although councils can act if buildings are deemed dangerous and go on to recoup money from owners if they carry out work, there’s more that can be done to bring in more preventative measures.

"Businesses are under severe pressure at the moment with rising city centre costs. But a crisis incident could not only injure people but affect their insurance and their reputation."

A council spokeswoman said: "We regularly remind building owners that the responsibility for ensuring the safety of members of the public in and around their buildings lies with them – whether commercial, retail, business, public or privately owned."

The new maintenance guide can be downloaded at https://academystreet.org/