Published: Monday, 8th June, 2009 4:56pm

Meedies Neuk blaze sparks demolition dispute

by Peter Swindon

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A derelict pub at the centre of a land dispute has been gutted by a "suspicious" blaze.

Fire fighters were called to the Meedies Neuk in Crosshill just after 4pm on Saturday.

It took three crews almost two hours to extinguish the blaze, which originated in the roof of the building.

'We"re dealing with it as a wilful fire raising,' a spokesman for Fife Constabulary told the Times.

Lochgelly-based housing developer, Ian Sneddon, who owns the Meedies Neuk, secured planning permission to build fourteen flats on the site in October 2007.

He had been involved in a stand-off with neighbouring junior football club, Lochore Welfare, over an upgrade of the shared access road.

'I have come to an arrangement with Lochore Welfare,' Mr Sneddon said this week, 'but time has moved on and we"re now in the middle of an economic crisis. I can"t build until I can be confident that the properties can be sold.

'It will cost £20,000 to demolish the building with no return, no reward. That puts me out of pocket.

'Until there"s an uplift in the market I"ll keep the property as safe and secure as possible.'

Mr Sneddon"s reassurances failed to placate two local councillors who have dubbed the abandoned building a 'death trap'.

Cllr Willie Clarke, who is also chairman of Lochore Welfare, said, 'The length of time this building has stood is totally unacceptable. The owner needs to make this building safe before someone is killed and the only way I can see of doing that is to put a bulldozer through it. I would hope that the owner now realises that.'

Councillor Alex Rowley, who first raised his fears about the crumbling structure in 2007, said, 'This building is like a magnet for young people. Cllr Clarke and I have been told repeatedly by locals that young people are going into the building and clambering on the roof.

'Before it went on fire locals were convinced that this building is dangerous. Enough is enough. I am now calling on the council to bring this building down before a young person is killed. What price can we put on a young person"s life.'

Fife Council refused to force Mr Sneddon"s hand last year after an assessment found that the building is 'not imminently dangerous'.

Building standards manager, Neil Mitchell, said, 'Our surveyors inspected the building on Monday. In the short term we are arranging for the fencing used to cordon off the building to be checked and reinstated as necessary.

'As a priority, the building will also be further inspected over the next few days to determine if any additional works are required to safeguard the public.

'However, if children or other persons are wilfully climbing over such fencing to approach or climb onto the building this would be a matter for the police.'

Fife Constabulary has appealed to anyone with information about the Meedies Neuk blaze to call 01592 251111.

Officers are currently investigating similar fires at an extension to Benore Care Home in Lochore on 19th May and the empty Crown Hotel in Cowdenbeath on 13th May.

"These incidents are not being linked at this time," added a police spokesman.