Blaze tragedy pub to reopen

Councillors have granted permission for the Balmoral Bar in Dalry to operate again - 16 months after the tragic fire.

Once building safety chiefs have carried out a final inspection, a new licence for the pub will be issued.

Work is still ongoing to put the final touches to the bar, but an opening date is thought to be close, with the owner looking for a new team to run the pub.

Licensing leader Councillor Marjorie Thomas said the original licence was only removed as a result of the fire, and there was no reason to refuse it.

Licensing lawyer Alistair Macdonald, acting for the bar owner Trust Inns, said: "The licence was removed on the understanding it would be returned when the premises was ready to open. That is due to happen soon and the search for new management has been launched.

"The premises will be virtually brand new with improved disabled facilities and a new kitchen."

Mr Williamson, 35, died as a blaze ripped through the bar late on July 11 last year.

He entered the building with breathing apparatus and was part of a team that rescued 20 people before tragedy struck.

The Evening News is running a high-profile campaign for the firefighter to be posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal, and an investigation into the circumstances of his death is continuing.

Councillor Alastair Paisley, who sits on the licensing board, said it was important that the bar began trading again.

"The correct people have been out to see it, everything is in order, and it's in the process of being handed over. There's nothing untoward about it whatsoever, and in fact the whole thing is being built from scratch.

"We have all these pubs in Edinburgh that can't provide the number of toilets and baby change facilities and so on, so this is an opportunity to get all that with a new place. It is important to get places up and running when we can."

The Pentlands councillor did acknowledge there was an element of emotion tied to the decision.

"Of course it is very sad that a young firefighter lost his life," he added.

No-one from Trust Inns was available for comment.