Published: Thursday, 26th June, 2008 11:00
Clean up Kelty campaign launched
By Peter Swindon
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Members of Kelty Community Council with Cllr Alex Rowley at derelict building in Cocklaw Street
Councillor Alex Rowley has launched a campaign to clean up parts of Kelty that have fallen into disrepair.
The Labour member for The Lochs ward has two areas in his sights - a row of shops in Blackhall Square and a derelict building in Cocklaw Street, both owned by businessman Mohammed Saleem.
Councillor Rowley said: “The challenges of making lasting improvements to the Blackhall Square area and the health and well-being of its residents are not new. This is an area of multiple deprivation with the Kelty South West datazone amongst the top 15% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. The area has been the subject of proposals in the past - which have not been followed through.
“The building in Cocklaw Street is a major problem. Residents are telling me that birds nesting in it are doing the toilet everywhere. I’m also worried the roof will come off in the winter. Tiles have already come off. One strong gust might be all it takes. I’m not prepared to wait until someone is killed.”
Chairman of Kelty Community Council, Ben Conway, backed Councillor Rowley’s stance: “The place keeps getting worse,” he said. “The council should be doing something about it. Kelty Community Council is trying to make this place better and Mr Saleem is certainly not helping. Action is needed at both Blackhall Square and Cocklaw Street.”
Councillor Rowley added: “Mr Saleem’s playing about but it’s the council that has to force these issues. I’ve tried my hardest to force the council’s hand but now, along with the community council, I’m launching a public campaign. What we as a community are saying is: ‘Enough is enough. We’re not prepared to put up with dereliction in our town any longer. This is no longer acceptable. The council must step in’.”
The council’s head of local services, Graeme McRoberts, said: “We can’t force somebody to develop their own property, however, what we can do is work with individuals to achieve a win win solution for the community.
“The role of a locality manager is to bring the right people to the table to deal with local issues. Donald Grant will sit down with elected members in that ward and revisit an old City Design Study, which was a small scale masterplan for that area. It will be up to them to decide if it’s still fit for purpose.”
Mr Saleem was keen to work with the council to find a solution.
“I want to solve the problem and I’m happy to discuss it,” he said. “I am working on plans for flats at Cocklaw Street at the moment and I want to build flats or a care home at Blackhall Square.”
Meanwhile, plans for flats at the former Oakfield Hotel site in Cocklaw Street are on display in the Moray Institute. Derlin Properties propose to build a circular six-storey building.
Councillor Alex Rowley has called on Derlin to clean up the area.
“They demolished the hotel without any approval,” he said. “I would suggest they demonstrate goodwill to the community by ensuring that the area they own is cleaned up and weed killer is used to kill off all the weeds that make this site such an eyesore at present.”
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