By CATRIONA STEWART

A LEGAL bid to halt the demolition of a dangerous block of flats has been lodged.

Owners at 37 Annette Street have appealed the decision of Glasgow City Council to bring down their Govanhill properties.

Demolition of the tenement close should have begun this month but legal action gives the building a stay of execution.

It is believed the appeal hearing will be heard on August 18.

The eight-flat block, factored by Cumming, Turner & Watt, has been deemed unsafe and a dangerous buildings notice served.

Glasgow City Council said it has been warning owners since 2011 that the building needed serious repair work.

Now, following an internal collapse in the building, Building Standards inspectors said it must come down.

Owners are determined the building should be saved and want a second opinion, which they hope their legal action will provide.

If the building should be demolished, local businesses and other homeowners will be impacted.

Local councillor Soryia Siddique has also become involved in the battle.

She wrote to Glasgow City Heritage Trust to see if the charity would be able to assist, despite the building not being listed or in a conservation area.

Ms Siddique said: "I have been contacted by families and businesses in Govanhill that are concerned about the impact of demolition on their living and livelihoods.

"I wrote to Glasgow City Heritage Trust with a view that Glasgow City Heritage Trust may be able to protect the sandstone tenemental building which has existed for decades.

"The building exists in the enhanced enforcement area (EEA) in Govanhill and some of the area falls in the bottom 15 per cent Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

"The possibility of protecting the building structurally would have an economic and social benefit for children, families and businesses in the area.

"I will continue to work with local residents,

"It is important the city council doesn't allow similar buildings to fall into disrepair. "

A response to Ms Siddique reads: "Sadly, having read through the email and attachments from Private Sector DRS Housing & Regeneration Services, it appears that it is simply too late for Glasgow City Heritage Trust to get involved.

"Unfortunately, as this tenement is not listed or in a conservation area it has no statutory protection so the Trust would not be legally permitted to grant fund repairs to it. It is also not on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.

The demolition will also impact flats from 232 to 238 Allison Street as they share a property title.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow City Council said: “We can confirm that we have received notification of an appeal and will await the decision of the court in the matter.”