Work underway to rehouse residents as blaze-hit Perth tenement declared unsafe

Daily Record

7 days ago

PKC is asking local landlords or Air BnB owners with available accommodation to assist with the rehousing effort.
Dozens of Perth residents will have to be rehoused following the fire which ripped through a city tenement claiming a man's life.
The Scott Street building has been declared unsafe and those living near the site will have to be found alternative accommodation while demolition work takes place.
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More than 40 residents had to be evacuated from their homes as a result of Saturday's blaze and a respite centre was set up in the nearby Salutation Hotel.
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It is expected there will now be months of disruption in Perth city centre while the demolition work is carried out.
Road closures remain in place on South Street and Scott Street while enquiries and work on the building is ongoing.
A joint Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) investigation is taking place into the cause of the fire.
First Minister John Swinney, who visited the site on Tuesday, said: 'I would like to express my sympathy to all those who remain affected by this tragic incident, especially the family of the gentleman who sadly lost his life. I also recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for so many people.
'Incidents of this severity remind us of the sheer bravery and professionalism of our firefighters and other emergency services workers in putting themselves in danger to assist others. Their actions without doubt saved many lives.
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'My government will work closely with Perth and Kinross Council to make sure that support is made available to all of those who have been affected by this terrible event.'
PKC deputy leader Eric Drysdale said this week: 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the person who tragically lost their life in this terrible incident, and with all the other people affected.
'Since the fire, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Police Scotland and Council staff have been on site to ensure the safety of the wider public.
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'On Saturday, June 14 a structural engineering contractor was brought in to assess the damage caused to the building at 41 Scott Street.
'Their report outlined devastating damage to the whole building. The structure has been made unsafe and no part of it is salvageable. As things stand, the building is a serious risk to health and safety.
'Unfortunately, this means that the whole building will require complete demolition. This will be an extremely complex process, and specialist demolition contractor Reigart have been appointed to carry out the task.
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'The building will require careful demolition from the top, down to ground level and this will take some time to complete. It is estimated that the work could take around 24 weeks, but it is possible that it could be concluded earlier if there are no complications.
'To allow the work to be carried out safely, pedestrian and traffic access to sections of Scott Street and South Street around the site will remain closed. We appreciate that this will cause continued significant disruption in Perth City Centre, but unfortunately this is unavoidable given the situation we face.'
An eight-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man had been taken to hospital for treatment following the fire which claimed the life of a man.
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Two firefighters also sustained injuries and received medical attention.
The British Red Cross is among those providing practical help and emotional support in the wake of the fire.
Trained volunteers are providing clothing and toiletries to those unable to access their belongings or homes as well as support at hotels housing evacuated residents.
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Police Scotland divisional commander for Tayside chief superintendent Nicola Russell said: 'Our thoughts remain with all those impacted by this fire.
'Our enquiries remain ongoing to establish the cause of the fire and we would like to thank the local community for their co-operation and support and officers remain in the area.
'Road closures and cordons remain in place to ensure safety and allow enquiries to be carried out.
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'We are reviewing CCTV and speaking to residents and I would appeal for anyone with any information which could assist to contact us.'
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 0380 of 14 June, 2025.
PKC is asking local landlords or Air BnB owners with available accommodation to get in touch with them to assist with the rehousing effort. They can contact the housing team at: [e-mail]
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PKC said it is hoped some of these people will be able to move back into their homes after 16 weeks, when demolition work has progressed and the building will be of a safe height.
People who live in the block directly adjacent to number 41 (number 33) will have to be rehoused for the entire duration of the work.
Some other households who live further away from the fire site but who still live inside the cordon have been asked to leave their homes for the short-term.
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They are aiming to allow these people back into their homes soon.
The council spokesperson added that PKC will support businesses who will be affected by the road closures, adding: 'We have been speaking to them today to see what arrangements can be put in place to help.
'This support will continue and develop throughout the duration of the closure. Anyone who needs to speak to our Business Support Team can email [e-mail].'
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The spokesman continued: 'It is hoped that the outer cordon can be reduced in the near future to allow some businesses to reopen and some people to return to their homes.
'A new road traffic configuration for Perth city centre is being designed to allow the free flow of traffic as far as we can, and to provide delivery access to premises. We will provide an update with these arrangements.
'Buses will be re-routed, and some temporary stops will be put into the city centre. Signage will be in place so that people know where they can get their bus.'
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Councillor Drysdale added: 'The people of Perth and local businesses have responded to this sad event with huge compassion and generosity. It has been heartening to see our local community pull together to help people at their time of greatest need.
'We would appreciate everyone's ongoing co-operation and understanding as we deal with this difficult situation.
'We understand that the disruption to the city centre will bring frustrations, but we are committed to completing the work as soon as we can and most importantly, to continue support for the people and businesses who have been directly affected by the fire.
'I would once again like to pay tribute to our emergency services for their continued excellent response to this incident, as well as to the wide range of council and Health and Social Care Partnership staff who rose to a significant challenge over the weekend to provide all the support and help that they could.
'I also want to pass on my sincere gratitude to the staff at Salutation Hotel, who have been superb in working with us to make sure that people affected had the care they needed in the aftermath of the fire.'