JACKIE Baillie MSP has called for the site of a former Dumbarton Hotel to be demolished.

Firefighters were called to fight a blaze within the property for the second time in under a month last weekend.

It comes after they previously tackled a fire at the site on June 27.

Police SCotland are treating this fire as a deliberate act and are now urging any witnesses who saw anything to get in touch. 

The East Annexe of the 1798 country house has been devastated by both blazes with major damage done to the interior and exterior of the property.

The once popular hotel has been closed since the pandemic, after it was bought by Devilla Property Services.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) last year removed the category B listing on the building, following an application from its owners - who lodged plans to partially demolish the building.

The decision came despite more than 90 objections lodged by local residents after HES backed the applicant’s statement that there was “no possibility” of future reuse due to the economic climate and the fact that the fabric of the property was “in a poor state”.

And now the deputy leader of Scottish Labour has called on the owners to demolish the property.

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"If you have driven past the former site of the Dumbuck House Hotel recently then you will see that the second fire has absolutely devasted the building," she said.

"There is very little left to preserve. The owners did previously apply to delist it as a building of interest and unfortunately they were successful in that.

"The site is now so damaged that I want them to demolish it and tidy it up as a matter of urgency.

"I understand the police are investigating the blaze as a wilful incident."

The Dumbarton MSP also reflected on her personal memories of the building

"I can't help but observe that the Dumbuck was a wonderful place because for locals it was somewhere you went to celebrate," she continued.

"Lots of people I know got married there, there were plenty of birthdays over the years and for a long time, it was where the people of Dumbarton had a party,

"That is no more and I hope the site can be tidied up very quicky."

MP Douglas McAllister also previously called for the building to be demolished as soon as possible.

He added: "I wish to thank the emergency services who responded so quickly to the incident.

"My concerns are for local residents affected now on 2 occasions in such close proximity to each other.

"It’s incredibly sad to see the destruction of such a historic building in the heart of my constituency, built early 19th Century and with listed status.

"I understand the first incident did not result in the building being completely destroyed but the damage from the most recent fire will now result in mandatory demolition.