COWDENBEATH MSP Alex Rowley joined with Lochgelly and Cardenden Councillor Mark Hood at a meeting of Cardenden Community Council on Thursday, and was told of the growing concern within the communities of Cardenden, Bowhill and Dundonald about a blight on the landscape.

The building adjacent to the railway station, which used to be a shop and now lies in a state of disrepair and dereliction, was under the microscope.

Mr Rowley has now written to Fife Council asking that they use every power at their disposal to bring about action to address the issues.

He said, “This building is in a defective state and I have pointed out that under the legislation passed in 2014, local authorities have the powers to deal with defective buildings through the issue of a defective buildings notice whereby they can state what needs to happen to address the issues and bring the building into a reasonable state of repair and where the owner fails to do this they can take the necessary action and claim the monies back.

“The fact that children have been able to access the building is a problem and the fact that it is suggested that vermin live in the building is another issue. At a very minimum the building needs to be secure where children can’t get in and any vermin must be cleaned out and the building must be sealed to ensure no access for these sort of creatures”.

Local councillor, Mark Hood, said that despite repeated correspondence and contact with the council, the officials suggest they don’t have the powers to act.

He told the Times, “I feel the council is far too soft when it comes to these kinds of buildings and I will now be pushing them and working along with Alex to make sure the council will use the powers that are available and state where they need more powers. The state of this building cannot be allowed to continue and I am determined to get action”.