A STRETCH of a Helensburgh seafront street re-opened on Thursday afternoon after nearly six weeks closed due to a dangerous building.

East Clyde Street was closed between its junctions with Sinclair and Maitland Streets on Saturday, October 31 after sections of the building started falling on to the street in high winds.

In a brief statement published online, Argyll and Bute Council said that the building has now been declared safe, and the stretch of the street was expected to re-open at 3pm on Thursday, December 10.

The council undertook work to make the building safe on Monday, November 9.

A recent report to a full meeting of the council suggested that demolition of the building would cost the authority between £150,000 and £200,000.

The area of road has been closed off before due to the condition of the building at 5-7 East Clyde Street.

A statement by the council, published on its website at 11.45am on Thursday, December 10, said: “A building has been made safe on the A814 East Clyde Street between Sinclair Street and Maitland Street junctions.

“Building inspectors have confirmed that the road can be re-opened at 3pm today, December 10, 2020.

“Traffic management and all diversion signs will be removed and normal traffic flow will be resumed.”

Council executive director Kirsty Flanagan previously said in the report for the authority’s November meeting:  “The council accepts that there is a need to identify a permanent solution to the building at 5-7 East Clyde Street, Helensburgh as it will continue to deteriorate and the council may continue to incur substantial costs.

“That said, the council is not in a position to undertake a permanent solution at this time given the considerable costs associated with the option to demolish or refurbish with no financial gain.

“Consequently, the council’s only viable option at this time is to remove the immediate danger to the public as empowered to do under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

“It is further proposed that the council will continue to actively engage with the owners, and all other interested parties, to consider the further options for this building which occupies a prominent position in Helensburgh town centre.”