People could be hit by fallen masonry from a dilapidated former Perth church, it has been claimed.
Alastair Taylor, managing director of Charlie Taylor Hair, Health and Beauty, whose South Methven Street salon faces St Paul’s Church, said the parts may fall from the “complete and utter eyesore” even if new scaffolding is put up.
St Paul’s is now owned by James Boyd, legal and compliance manager with the Belfast-based Simple Marketing Global.
He has been warned by the council to put up scaffolding immediately or face retrospective charges if they do it themselves.
The businessman, who recently took over the pigeon-infested listed building from Edinburgh restaurant chain Khushi’s, faces a race against time after a dispute with a former scaffolding firm.
Mr Taylor said staff at the Perth salon have endured looking at St Paul’s Church for years and stressed someone may be hurt with the building not protected at all.
“St Paul’s closed its doors in 1986 and has not been maintained since, apart from changes to the roof,” he said.
“It’s in a dangerous state now and you have to ask would the council step in if bits started to fall off?
“People recently carried out a cull on the nesting pigeons but one of the windows at the back of the building is open so more can come in when they like.”
“The new owner had said he wanted to put up fresh scaffolding and make the building secure but he seems reluctant to do so.
“I’ve been told he would need to apply for planning permission to develop St Paul’s but part of the problem is that no one knows what is going on.”
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Building standards officers have again inspected the building’s exterior and confirm there is no imminent public safety issue.
“However, the owner has been notified that unless he confirms new scaffolding will definitely be erected this week, the council will place safety fencing around the building’s perimeter and re-charge the cost to him.”
Mr Boyd claimed he was doing all he could with regard to setting up scaffolding.
“It’s not easy getting them (scaffolders) to site as I have been let down twice,” he said.