“Dangerous” Blairgowrie cinema set for demolition

Apr 22 2011 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PLANS to raze Blairgowrie’s dilapidated Quinns cinema have been formally lodged this week following a report deeming the building “dangerous”.

Applicants Perthshire Housing Association (PHA), who bought the century-old Reform Street building in March last year, have already received permission from Perth and Kinross Council to build 17 two-bedroom flats on site.

The property has stood empty for the best part of three decades and a structural survey report has been submitted along with the latest bid.

Structural engineers write: “Based on our recent and previous inspections of the building, we are of the opinion the building fabric and structure has deteriorated further and that the building should now be classed as dangerous, despite it being secured.”

The survey, carried out by Scott Bennett Associates Group on behalf of PHA and developers Campion Homes, identifies “expansive deterioration of upper level brickwork”, and estimates up to 50% of the effective brick thickness has been lost.

It was also noted that large sheets of render are “ready to fall off the wall”, a collapsed roof and wallhead deterioration.

However, PHA development director Alison Crook indicated redevelopment work on the death-trap former cinema has been delayed due to a lack of government funding.

She said: “We have planning approval to build 17 flats on the site. However, changes to the funding of social housing made by the Scottish Government make timescales for building the new flats uncertain.

“We are therefore seeking approval to demolish the old building now so that we have a cleared site ready to go when funds do become available.”

The crumbling landmark, which opened in 1913, was once popular with courting couples, showing popular movies in cinema’s heyday including The Wind in the Barley, Algiers and The Spy in Black.

However, the building, which has remained vacant since closing its doors after showing its last film, Annie, in 1983, has since been described as an eyesore by local residents.