Council demolishes city store

JASWANT SINGH is well used to arriving at his shop to find it has been attacked by vandals.

The shopkeeper was forced to rebuild his Niddrie Mains Drive business completely when it was destroyed by fireraisers, only to watch as it was burnt out again in February, just days before it was due to reopen.

But any hopes he had of resurrecting his business again have been well and truly demolished – after he turned up yesterday to find the city council knocking it down.

The move followed months of negotiations during which the Singhs refused to leave the site, despite the council wanting to pull down the building, which is the last one standing for hundreds of yards.

Mr Singh, 57, who lives in Portobello, insists the first he knew of the work was when he arrived to see a bulldozer ripping into the building.

In a desperate attempt to save his shop he darted behind the security fencing and stood in front of the building. An angry confrontation with the workmen followed before Mr Singh finally gave in and the demolition continued.

The council today insisted it had notified Mr Singh that this would happen, but he maintained the only communication he received was that the building was considered dangerous.

He said: "This is just unbelievable. That shop belongs to me and they have gone in without even telling us.

"The first I knew of this was when I drove round the corner to see a bulldozer destroying my shop."

After a fire in 2006, Mr Singh and his wife Shindo worked to restore the shop in the estate – most of which has been flattened under a regeneration programme.

Just before they were due to reopen the premises in February another fire ripped through the building, destroying everything inside again. But the couple vowed to remain in Niddrie and Mr Singh said they had been determined to see the shop – which they originally opened in 1985 – reopen.

Mr Singh added: "First we have had two fires and no-one around here seems to know what happened to start them.

"Now I turn up to see my own shop being destroyed."

Mrs Singh added: "Now any evidence that could have told us who started the fire has been destroyed.

"Our life's work is being ruined before us. We had a letter from the council saying they thought the building was unsafe, but there was no suggestion that this would happen."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "Following a serious fire at this address, the police and fire brigade expressed concerns about the condition of the property.

"Council officers carried out an assessment of the condition of the property and this led to it being classed as a dangerous building that would have to be demolished. Mr Singh was notified of this in early March."

The Singhs have long been in negotiation with the council over what should become of the shop. A compensation package was previously rejected by the Singhs, who said they would not be forced out of the area.