Photos reveal frightening state of Inverness buildings
Alarming photographs of loose stonework and vegetation growing in the gutters of buildings in Inverness city centre have raised concerns about the risk to public safety.
The images were taken by a specialist team using ropes to carry out maintenance work in the centre. From their bird’s eye view, the workers from Orion Rig Services spotted other defects in surrounding buildings and took photographs which have been passed onto Highland Council officers to highlight the problems.
It comes in the wake of images published by the Inverness Courier last month also showing vegetation growing from the guttering of buildings in Church Street, Academy Street, Union Street and Queensgate.
Jamie Cruickshank, managing director of Orion Rig Services, is so concerned he has warned his family to be careful.
"I am alarmed by the things seen," he said. "I have a wife and two kids who often walk through the city centre. There is my mum and dad, too.
"I say to them, ‘Just be careful – don’t walk too close to these buildings.’."
Mr Cruickshank was reluctant to name the buildings but has passed on the photographs to the council in the hope that officers will highlight the problems to owners.
They include loose stonework and metalwork, a loose and cracked chimney, moss causing damp in the building and a noticeable amount of vegetation which Mr Cruickshank maintains is typical throughout the city.
He urged owners to check their buildings. "I am trying to ensure the public of Inverness are safe," he said.
He recalled there had been a fatal incident in Edinburgh several years ago when masonry fell from a building.
"It always seems to be that something has to happen first," he said. "What we are trying to say is we don’t that to happen in Inverness in the first place. Inverness has to be a city you can walk down and feel safe."
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: "We will look into the photographs and if we deem action is necessary, we will be informing the property owners."
Mr Cruickshank’s comments echo recent warnings by Bill Anderson, chairman of the Inverness Local History Forum and former construction worker.
He called on owners to clear up the vegetation from buildings in the interests of public safety and said Highland Council should take action against those who failed to do so.
