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'Painstaking' demolition of fire-hit Perth building completed

News imageBBC The site of a major fire in Perth, now completely cleared. There is a view of a road and a large space where the building used to be. There is an intact building next to the site and diggers.BBC
The road is expected to fully reopen in February

Demolition work on a Perth city centre building badly damaged in a fatal fire in June has been completed.

A man died and two people, an eight-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man, were taken to hospital following the fire in Scott Street.

Fifty-five households had to be rehoused after damage to the building made neighbouring structures unsafe.

A chihuahua puppy called Vilo was also rescued from the building after surviving almost two weeks in the burnt-out tenement.

Stabilisation work on an adjacent building has also been completed, and residents and businesses are expected to be allowed to return there in mid-February.

News imageStuart Cowper A sandstone building on fire at night with flames bursting through the windowsStuart Cowper
Flames tore through the roof of the building at the junction of Scott Street and South Street

Perth and Kinross Council said the demolition work had to be carried out brick-by brick.

The authority said this also allowed council staff and demolition contractors Reigart to rescue personal belongings from some of the properties and preserve materials from the building, including The Royal Bar's stained-glass window.

The final stage of demolition, removing large steel beams and the South Street aspect of the Royal Bar, took place last week.

The street is expected to fully reopen in February following the reinstatement of the carriageway, traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and street lighting next month.

News imageA tenement block in Perth which has been badly damaged by fire. the roof and upper windows have collapsed and several other windows are smashed.
The roof and upper floors were completely destroyed by the blaze

Perth and Kinross Council leader Councillor Eric Drysdale said the demolition had been "a painstaking process".

He said: "We had to ensure public safety, protect other buildings and salvage as much as possible from the properties destroyed by the fire.

"Work to infill the basement of the site will begin in January and we will be considering options for how the corner should look once work on the site is completed and look forward to sharing these ideas with residents and businesses."