Update issued on Helensburgh town centre road closure

Council officials are set to hold talks with owners of a dangerous building in Helensburgh as a key route through the town remains closed.

A stretch of East Clyde Street between Sinclair and Maitland Streets has been shut since Tuesday, June 9, due to the condition of numbers 5-7 and 9-11.

Traffic is currently being diverted via Charlotte Street for westbound traffic and William Street for drivers heading eastbound.

It is not yet known when the road could reopen, with Argyll and Bute Council awaiting a report on the options for demolition.

A statement from the council on Friday, June 26 said: “The council appreciates the support of our businesses and communities following the road closure at East Clyde Street, Helensburgh.

“The heras fencing and road closures remain in place to protect public safety from further collapse of the building.

“The council are treating this matter seriously and building standards have formally served dangerous buildings notices on all owners and discussions with the multiple owners are ongoing to establish what actions they propose to take, or whether formal intervention will be required from the council under the Buildings (Scotland) Act.

“We have commissioned and await a structural engineer’s report on the demolition options which will inform these discussions.

“A further meeting with owners will be held next week and thereafter, the council will provide further information to the community and businesses on the situation.”

The statement added: “Following representations and discussions with local elected members, we recognise there are some difficulties with traffic congestion caused by the road closures.

“We continue to review the ongoing situation but given the designated safety zone implemented by the structural engineer, there are limited avenues to divert traffic and disruption is inevitable.

“The council are endeavouring to limit congestion and support local businesses with the relevant signage in place (businesses open as usual) to mitigate the effects to businesses as much as possible.”