Fire crews spent over 24 hours bringing the blaze under control. Part of the building reignited after the August 17 fire, with firefighters called back to the scene just days later. The former hotel was badly damaged. So much damage was caused to the building, which dates back to around 1900, the owners were left with no option but to launch a 'take down operation', Glasgow Live reports. An application to demolish the property was submitted earlier in the month but the owners have started taking down the building due to children breaching a security fence surrounding the site.
The move has caused concern among those who were awaiting a decision being made on whether the building could be repaired and restored. Elected officials were told days before Christmas that parts of the building were "beginning to fall". Building Standards and Planning Officers have assessed the damage. It was decided that to "avoid any tragedy" the owners would begin demolishing the building which was "continuing to deteriorate and collapse" following the fire.
An email sent out by a member of the planning team detailed: "It is an unfortunate fact that persons are attracted to damaged and vacated structures for reasons ranging from curiosity to criminal intent. They often do so despite it being clear they should not. "In this circumstance the isolated nature of the site, which was initially a benefit gaining time to consider the future of the building, had become a detrimental factor in attracting a range of persons and was a direct public safety concern. "Unfortunately it had become a pressing consideration and a decision had to be taken to move matters forward in the interests of public safety.
"On Monday 18th Dec the Council issued a Dangerous Buildings Notice under the Buildings (Scotland) Act 2003 requiring the owner to demolish the Carnbooth Hotel in accordance with the approved Building Warrant application."