PEOPLE evacuated from their homes after a Helensburgh building was declared unsafe have hit out at the lack of notice they were given to get out of their homes.

The building on the corner of East Clyde Street and Maitland Street was evacuated last Tuesday night over concerns about its structural safety.

Residents of both the building itself and two neighbouring properties were forced out of their properties amid fears that the structure could collapse.

Argyll and Bute Council has found homes for all the displaced residents with help from the Ministry of Defence, and the authority estimates that a temporary propping-up of the building could take up to three weeks to complete.

But that hasn't doused the ire of those who were forced to leave their homes with very little notice last week.

Declan Lalley, who lived in a flat in the building with his parents, brother and pets, said Argyll and Bute Council officials had been monitoring the state of the building all day, but had only given householders 30 minutes' notice that they would have to leave.

Mr Lalley said: “On Tuesday I left to go to the cinema at quarter to seven and saw a guy in a hi-vis jacket pointing up at the house.

“A policeman was there and I asked what was going on. He said they might be shutting the whole road off and closing the building.

“A health and safety guy showed up at about half past seven or eight o'clock. He said 'you need to pack whatever you can, and get out. It doesn't matter where you're going'.

“I was panicking."

Mr Lalley and his family were able to arrange short-term accommodation with a friend, but the only alternative accommodation offered by the council at first was in Dunoon or Campbeltown.

He continued: “It's a nightmare. If the council are saying they've looked after people, they've certainly not.

“It's terrible that they don't have any house empty in Helensburgh for emergencies.”

Mr Lalley's mother, Lizanne, added: “The building was deemed dangerous by the council after a survey of the beam was carried out on Tuesday and we were told to pack what we could and get out.

“I only knew of this potential eviction after finishing work late on Tuesday when my son called me.

“I just hope something like this doesn't happen to anyone again."

Another resident, Paul Dunigan, was evacuated from a neighbouring building with his girlfriend, three-month-old baby and pet dog on Tuesday night.

Mr Dunigan called the handling of the incident “a shambles”.

He said: “I saw police outside at about 7pm and that's when I was told what was happening.

“We managed to get a few things together – mostly stuff for the baby.

“We agreed to go to my mum's for one night but we were then put into the Ardmore guest house, where I'm paying more for a room than I'm paying in rent for a full flat.

“The council tried to offer me a place in Dunoon, but I work in Helensburgh. How was I meant to get there? I don't drive and there's no ferry to Helensburgh."

East Clyde Street remains closed between Sinclair Street and Charlotte Street, with vehicle and pedestrian traffic being diverted via East Princes Street.

An Argyll and Bute Council spokesman said: “Where property owners take action to keep their buildings safe, disruptive situations like this one can be avoided.

"Our housing officers have done everything possible to find alternative accommodation for residents who need it, within the council area in line with Scottish Government legislation.

"We have found homes for everyone with the help of the Ministry of Defence and we are grateful for their assistance.

"We understand that people are keen to return to their own homes and businesses, and are working with the owners of the buildings to ensure that repairs are carried out as quickly as possible. We would urge property owners to keep their buildings safe for use. “