A fire-ravaged building in Callander’s main street, which has been in ruins for two years. look set to be reinstated.
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners have now granted planning permission to the co-owners of the property at 114 Main Street for the extensive works.
In their decision, they said: “The proposal will bring an historic building located on the main thoroughfare through Callander Conservation Area back into use and the proposed reinstatement works will replicate the pre-fire appearance of the building.”
Five flats and Ciro’s Italian Restaurant were severely damaged when the fire took hold in May 2017, forcing families out of their homes and destroying possessions. The roof collapsed on the top-floor flat and the restaurant suffered smoke and water damage.
The community later raised around £4500 to help those affected.
Two years on, however, not only the fire but subsequent water damage is said to have taken a further toll.
Primarily timber walls and floors of the flats had also been exposed since the fire and are said to be currently water damaged throughout the building.
Deborah and Gerry O’Hara lost everything when the fire swept through their top-floor flat. They had lived there for 32 years and were in the garden when they saw the smoke.
They were the only people near the building at the time. Two couples from Somerset had checked into another flat, which had been let out for rent to holidaymakers, and gone back out only minutes before the blaze.
While the restaurant, Ciro’s, was not damaged by the fire it was forced to close as a result of water and smoke damage.
The main route through Callander was closed in both directions until the early hours while firefighters dealt with the blaze, forcing motorists to take alternative routes. The fire burned so intensely that the roof of the top floor flat collapsed.
Eye-witnesses reported seeing flames burst out of the top of the building and a cloud of thick black smoke in Main Street as well as the sound of popping coming from within the fire.
