The historic TA Halls in Paisley face demolition after the council’s warnings went unheeded
Paisley: The local council had to step in because the building was deemed dangerous. They issued a notice that allowed JR Construction to demolish what was left of the historic TA Halls.
This building had already suffered a lot after a fire five years ago, leaving it mostly in ruins. There was still hope to use the front part for something new, but it fell into disrepair after the scaffolding was taken down last year.
The council said they had tried to get the owner to fix the support structure, but their requests were ignored. So, they had no choice but to act.
The Dangerous Building Notice was issued on December 18, giving the owners two options: fix the scaffolding or start tearing it down. JR Construction had previously pulled back on their demolition plans but decided to go ahead with it now.
The TA Halls were built way back in 1897 and were a well-known part of Paisley’s landscape. They stood between the Coates Memorial Church and the Paisley Museum, making them a familiar sight for locals.
After the Ministry of Defence left in 1996, the building sat empty until there were plans to turn it into student flats. But then the fire happened, and nothing has been done since.
When JR Construction moved to demolish the facade, a campaign kicked off to save the building. People started a petition urging the council to stop the demolition, highlighting how important the TA Halls were to the town’s character.
They argued that losing the building would hurt the community’s confidence, especially with all the new investments happening in Paisley.
Unfortunately, the situation escalated when the facade became unsafe after the scaffolding was removed. Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney called the demolition a shameful act against a building that could have been saved.
He pointed out that the owners had ignored multiple notices to fix the building and only acted when the council issued the Dangerous Building Notice.
Sweeney expressed concern about the implications of this decision, saying it shows a loophole in the laws protecting historic buildings. He believes the Scottish Government needs to step up and strengthen these protections.
A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council explained that they had to issue the Dangerous Building Notice to keep the public safe. They had no choice after the owners removed the support system and ignored the council’s requests.
The council preferred that the owners fix the facade, but they chose to demolish instead. JR Construction has been contacted for their side of the story.
