Port Glasgow residents are glad blaze block is coming down

Relieved residents on Highholm Street - who had expressed serious safety concerns - today welcomed news of the imminent demolition.

The operation, confirmed by Inverclyde Council, is expected to take ten weeks to complete.

Local authority officials stepped in to take control of the situation after property owners ignored a series of official notices regarding the state of the building.

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The move comes two months after local man Ben Withers, who lives a few closes down, appealed for the building either to be repaired or razed.

Civil servant Mr Withers said at the time: "I'm very concerned about it. It is an eyesore and a potential danger to the adjoining properties."

Neighbour Billy McEwen, 73, who has lived in the street for 45 years, told the Telegraph: "I am pleased it is getting demolished but I'm not happy it's taken so long.

"I've heard that some people living there didn't have house insurance.

"I have been concerned about the safety of the building since the fire happened. It's a safety hazard and someone could have got hurt.

"There are so many kids and young families living around here.

"It's in such a bad state, bits of the building could have fallen off, the gable wall could fall in at any time."

Mr McEwan, who moved into the street in 1978, added: "My family think the same as everyone living in my building at numbers five, seven and nine, that it was time someone did something about it. 

"We've been told it's going to take ten weeks to demolish it using a remote controlled crane.

"What can you do?"

An official notice says that Inverclyde Council has stepped in after serving notices to property owners who have failed to take action to repair or demolish the building.

A temporary traffic restriction order is currently in place and parking will be restricted to one side of the street.