PICTURES: Police cordon off Thurso town centre after huge collapse of stone from former Clydesdale Bank roof
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A police cordon has been set up around Traill Street in Thurso after tons of sandstone blocks fell from the parapet of the former Clydesdale Bank building this morning (May 1).
The incident occurred around 3-4am today and no injuries have been reported but access Traill Street, roads accessing it and shops/businesses is severely restricted.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "The road is currently closed at the junction of Sir George's Street, Olrig Street, Cowie Lane and Manson's Lane. Members of the public are being advised to avoid the area meantime. No one is believed to have been hurt in the incident."
Former police area commander Iain Gregory was interviewed at the scene this morning and said he had come down to see the full extent of the damage. "Clearly there's been a major collapse the upper part of the building and I'm just very, very relieved that it happened when it did and not at the top of the day when there were people underneath," he said.
"I'm hoping to speak to one of the police officers at the scene and someone from BEAR Scotland to try and establish how long it will be before it reopens. It's clearly going to be some time and public safety is the absolute priority." Mr Gregory added that he had over 30 years of serving with the police locally and had dealt with similar situations in the past but that "this one is particularly serious".
A police officer at the scene said that he believed it was perhaps just "a couple of tiles" that had fallen from the roof when he was initially called in to attend but was surprised to see the true extent of the damage. One bystander said he was amazed there were no cars parked on the street at the time as they would have been "completely destroyed" and two other people said they were desperate to get their medication from Sutherland's Pharmacy which was within the cordoned off area.
The Clydesdale Bank branch on Traill Street closed in 2017 and the building is now partly occupied by Tracey Inkson Photography and professional artist and jewellery maker Lindsay Gallacher.
Mrs Gallacher said she was given information from the building's owner saying that BEAR Scotland, the organisation responsible for the A9 road which Traill Street is on, is "keen to have the road open as soon as possible and a structural engineer is on his way to make an assessment".
"The corner section will need to be removed to make the area safe and the building watertight as soon as possible," she said. "Everyone is thankful that no one was hurt. I can’t speak for anyone else but am hoping it won’t be a lengthy time to be closed but in the meantime will be working from home and rescheduling my workshops."
She added that though she has not been able to access her business the room it is within does not appear to have been affected. "Billy and Ann Brock, who own the building, are fantastic people who bought the building to make it part of the community and had big plans for it – they are devastated this has happened."
Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss said: "Everyone will be thankful no injuries have been reported.
"The implications for the shops and businesses may be considerable. Secondly, for traffic arrangements, both on the A9 and surrounding streets different arrangements may be needed. Police have, as always, moved swiftly and the Chief Executive has been in touch with local members."
Wick and East Caithness councillor Raymond Bremner had broken the news early with a social media post saying that council officers were made aware the issue "at about 4am/5am by local police and were awaiting BEAR Scotland's arrival".
He told the paper: "The council’s Building Standards is arranging for fencing to go up to close the road to pedestrians until a full inspection has been undertaken.
"Police have also been asked to advise pedestrians to avoid the area. The owners of the property are being contacted as it is their responsibility to take whatever action is required to make the building safe."
Thurso and Northwest councillor Ron Gunn said: "I spoke to a police officer this morning at the scene and I understand that the masonry collapsed around 4.30am and was spotted on CCTV. The building will have to be structurally examined to make sure it is safe for workers to enter the area. Highland Council building standards officers are in attendance. As the road is part of the A9, Bear Scotland, who were quickly on the scene, will be at some stage removing the stonework some of which will be very heavy.
"Thankfully, mainly due to the time the incident happened, no person was injured. At present, I am not sure what is the position regarding folk who work in the building, but we might get a better idea once the building has been examined. I believe the area might be closed for some time."
Aaron's bus service said its 915 service will be starting from Skinandis in Thurso due to the ongoing issues in Traill Street. People wishing to access businesses within the cordoned off area are advised to check the relevant social media pages for updates.
Thurso historian Alan McIvor said the former Clydesdale Bank was built for the Aberdeen Town and County Bank and completed in 1866. He added: "The Grade B listed building originally comprised of the bank, a manager’s house, and a shop on the right.
"The now collapsed parapet is a feature seen in other buildings on Traill Street. The radius corners of the building were all part of Sir John Sinclair’s earlier plan for Thurso’s new town, allowing users a greater view when turning. The former bank was a later build than its neighbour, Sutherland's Pharmacy, which was completed in 1810."
