Question reference: S6W-08417
- Asked by: Emma Harper, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 6 May 2022
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Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 18 May 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the safety of the derelict Treasure Cave building located at 80 English Street, Dumfries, in light of reports that it has caused part of English Street to be closed to through traffic; whether Dumfries and Galloway Council has requested any support from the Scottish Government to address the state of the building, and what support the Scottish Government can provide to the local authority to address the building’s safety, to reopen the road to traffic and to ease any disruption to surrounding businesses.
Answer
Scottish Government has not discussed the Treasure Cave building with Dumfries and Galloway Council as enforcement is wholly the responsibility of the local authority. Council officials did not seek support from Scottish Government in relation to addressing the state of the building.
Dumfries and Galloway Council served a Dangerous Building Notice under Section 30 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 on 19 November 2021. The owner of the building recently made arrangements to comply with the notice by appointing a contractor to demolish the building. Demolition is expected to begin on 16 May 2022 and last three weeks. The road will be reopened once the demolition works are complete and the danger has been removed.