One of the most well known buildings in Crieff could be set to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of a devastating fire that left it virtually in ruins.
In June last year, four people had to be rescued by firefighters and appliances from all over Perthshire helped to battle a fierce fire that had broken out at CeeGee’s fashion shop in the town’s High Street.
Such was the ferocity of the blaze that some windows of the building blew out, sending glass falling on to the street.
No one was injured as a result but CeeGee’s was totally destroyed. Building standards officers from Perth and Kinross Council deemed CeeGee’s so unsafe that it was demolished just days after the fire.
Some 32 firefighters fought the blaze and they not only had to contend with the flames from the blaze but also the danger posed by the fact there were four propane gas cylinders in an adjoining shop.
The area around East High Street was cordoned off as firefighters dampened down the building.
The shop, which was regarded as one of Crieff’s most popular buildings, is owned by Kerry and Colin Grassick.
Mr Grassick confirmed that a building warrant has not yet been applied for but said his wife is keen to get her business running again on the site.
”My wife has been trading in another shop in the High Street in Crieff since August last year,” he said. ”We had to apply to rebuild the shop as it is in a conservation area. We and the flat owner have applied for planning permission.”
He continued: ”We are proceeding as quickly as we can. The site of the shop was demolished and cleared so it will be good to get things up and running again. It was a horrendous fire.”
Mrs Grassick added: ”We have to get conservation approval and a building warrant and our architects have designed it as close to a Victorian build as possible, which is great,” she said. ”So hopefully we will get as close to the original building as we can.
”It’s been great having a temporary shop in Crieff’s High Street, as it keeps the continuity of my customers. Otherwise, I would have had to start all over again. It’s taken time but it’s such a good corner site; it will be great to be back there.”
The proposals show plans for each floor. CeeGee’s will be on the ground floor as before, and the flat on the first and second floors. In keeping with the traditional features that CeeGee’s boasted before, the new building will have sash and case timber windows and a stone/reconstituted stone faade to match the original detail.
If the application is passed, it will also have timer facia with pilasters, fixed opaque obscured glazing and the building will have a slate roof and curved feature windows.