Meedies Neuk blaze sparks demolition dispute

Peter Swindon 1601 - 1601 • Published 8 Jun 2009 16:56 3 Comments

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.

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• 

  Villager
  Unregistered User
  Jun 9, 11:54
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  this building needs to be torn down before some gets seriously hurt. there have been many time that i have seen and heard kids as young as 8/9/10 ''playing'' in that building. i wouldn't want to be mr sneddon if someone gets hurt
  
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• 

  concerned
  Unregistered User
  Jun 9, 14:00
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  Seems like only a matter of time before someone is injured and this should be anticipated. Does the builder who owns the eyesore live in this vicinity, i think not, quite obviously interested in profit only and no concern for local resident. Perhaps Fife Council should invoke a compulsory purchase order. This monstrosity has blighted the area for long enough
  
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• 

  
  Unregistered User
  Jun 24, 05:38
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  villager & concerned .. i totaly agree. i live in lochgelly now & used to live in lochore .
  
  i feel mr sneddon is being selfish in not demolishing the building.
  
  after all . he would still own the land the building is on
  
  and he can bulid the flats he wants to when the economy is more in his favour
  
  in my view & the view of many others who live in the area of the meedies.. will say that £20.000 vers someones life there is only one option & money is not it !!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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