Politicians have condemned the chaos in Dumfries’ English Street.
A slice of the road has been cordoned off after debris crashed down from an unsafe building formerly known as Treasure Cave.
Pedestrians still have access to the businesses there, but owners have insisted the property should be knocked down and soon.
MSP Colin Smyth (pictured, right) blasted absent landlords for allowing buildings in the town to be run down into derelict states.
He said: “It is time for a zero tolerance approach to absent landlords.
“It’s all very well for people to say the owner has plans for a building, but after eight years of inaction and utter neglect, no one believes them.
“There are examples of such dangerous buildings in just about every town in our region.
“And, clearly, absent owners have no interest in the streets or towns their buildings are located so they don’t bother to maintain them to an appropriate level.
“Councils are understandably reluctant to take action except in emergencies because under the current inadequate Scottish Government laws, councils have to pick up the bill and are then forced to go through the courts to try to recoup the costs from the landlord.
“It can take a huge amount of time and taxpayers money, and often in the end the council get left with the building which is worthless.”
Mr Smyth added: “Give councils the proper powers and funding that allow them to seize the assets of absent owners to pay for the upkeep of buildings and change the business rates system so that owners who let their buildings fall into a state of disrepair are hammered.”
Meanwhile, MSP Emma Harper said: “I have been calling for urgent action to address the significant number of vacant, derelict and abandoned buildings across our region, including the Treasure Cave on English Street.
“It’s not only an eyesore to the community, but has caused the closure of English Street for through traffic.
“This causes much disruption and potentially a loss of earnings for the surrounding businesses.”
She added: “In February this year, I wrote to the owners of the building – J6 Investments Ltd – asking them to outline what action they were taking to address the condition of the premises and I asked what communication had occurred between them and the council.
“I received a response from the company director (on April 25) seeking my assistance to address the building’s state.
“I am therefore calling on the council to pro-actively work with the owner of the Treasure Cave so that whatever action is required – whether it be demolition, regeneration or proper remedial works – is taken urgently to address the buildings dilapidated state, to re-open English Street and to improve the aesthetics and attractiveness of English Street to benefit the community, local business and our town centre as a whole.”
