Demolition work at Dumfries’ English Street is a step closer to completion and now traffic and pedestrians can access the area.
The job to bring down the crumbling building has moved steadily forward in the last few weeks.
Dumfries and Galloway Council has reopened the street plus the neighbouring Shakespeare Street to both traffic and pedestrians.
Business boss Callum McKay, owner of TM McKay Electricals, welcomed the development following weeks of road chaos when the street was closed off then had just one lane open with a series of diversions.
He said: “I would say business has improved since the streets were re-opened and it has certainly made a difference.
“There is just the front edifice of the building, Treasure Cave, left to come down.”
The building sparked safety fears when parts of it began crashing onto the road at English Street and it was closed off before Westlakes Demolition moved in to bring down the structure.
But workers faced several problems when an old chimney began wobbling “like a jelly” and work was halted until the building was shored up.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “The contractor has erected hoardings at the property.
“Therefore normal vehicle and pedestrian movements on English Street and Shakespeare Street have resumed.”
