Owner of former hospital building that went up in flames had just been warned to make vital repairs

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The owner of the fire-ravaged Royal Alexandra Infirmary had just been ordered to make repairs, we can exclusively reveal.Fortunately, the mystery blaze on Wednesday night failed to destroy most of the heritage treasure after a rapid response from firefighters.Residents in surrounding buildings had to be evacuated to safety after dark as crews fought to stop the flames spreading.Luckily, fire teams have now confirmed nobody was injured.The owner, London-based petrol station tycoon Chelvatheebam Chelvam, has been trying and failing to flog the former Paisley hospital for a profit.But he has sat on it for a DECADE and Renfrewshire Council had done little to force him into action - until campaigners recently tightened the screw.Jim McIlroy, who leads the Save the RAI Paisley pressure group, said: “Questions have to be asked, people are furious.“The fire is shocking and should never have been allowed to happen.”In recent weeks, people have been seen inside parts of the rotting complex after dark, with mobile phone lights shining out windows off Neilston Road.Millionaire Mr Chelvam paid just £364,000 for the old RAI in Calside in 2011.The 63-year-old has, over the years, tried to sell it for £1m, but an auction six months ago with a guide price of £600,000 failed to attract a single bid.The Express can reveal he was written to by Renfrewshire Council just a week before the blaze.A senior official sent Mr Chelvam a letter on March 9 which a source confirmed laid out orders for specific repairs within a set deadline.If there was no action from him, a formal council repairs notice would follow “at the earliest opportunity”.Detectives and fire experts are continuing to probe the cause.The rambling building had been left unsecure