Demolition underway at Stewartfield Farm
Council accused of failing to preserve town’s heritage
Demolition work has begun on Stewartfield Farm after the pub called last orders.
Tiles have been stripped from the roof of the historic building.
A building warrant was granted by South Lanarkshire Council to tear it down to make way for proposed new homes.
The latest application for the site has been submitted by EK Landco Ltd and is for 19 detached and semidetached houses.
The decision to give the green light for more housing and tear down the pub infuriated local residents, East Kilbride History Society and former councillor Graham Simpson.
They have accused South Lanarkshire Council of failing to preserve East Kilbride heritage.
The building, however, isn’t listed – meaning it can be demolished.
Joe Allan, president of East Kilbride History Society, told the News: “It is yet another historic building in East Kilbride which will sadly be no more.
“I still feel the building could have been preserved if another large chain had come in to operate it as a pub, rather than turning it into more housing.
“But as it isn’t listed there was nothing Historic Scotland could do – and as there has been a planning application lodged with the council they wouldn’t even consider listing it.
“I am disappointed I couldn’t do more to save what is one of the last remaining historic buildings in East Kilbride.
“I will, however, make sure that whoever is demolishing the building has checked there are no bats or birds nesting in the roof space as there are strict regulations regarding this, particularly in Scotland.”
And Tory Central Scotland list MSP Graham Simpson also raised concerns over safety fencing not being erected before work to dismantle the roof began.
He said: “When work first began on removing the tiles there was no fencing up around the empty building, which I raised with the council’s building standards department.
“Frankly this was dangerous, although there now seems to be fencing in place after council officials spoke to the owners.”
He added: “I had asked if the council could issue a building preservation order at the point it was being surveyed but was given a flat out ‘no’.
“The council appears to have washed its hands of this and are not prepared to preserve the heritage of East Kilbride, which is being chipped away bit by bit.
“Locals are appalled that the building is being demolished – people want to save what little heritage we have.
“Hopefully, those elected to the new council administration may have a change of policy in this respect.”
South Lanarkshire Council’s head of planning and economic development Pauline Elliott said: “A member of our building standards team visited the site and we have contacted the owner.
“The owner has undertaken to ensure the site is secured appropriately with fencing.
“The council has two live planning applications for the redevelopment of the site for housing.
“Planning permission is not required for the demolition of the building.
“Notwithstanding this, under the initial planning application for the redevelopment of the site for 13 dwellings it was considered that the building was not of special architectural or historic interest, and committee approval was subsequently given.
“The council is currently assessing a further planning application for 19 dwellings which has been submitted seeking to amend the initial planning application.
“Separately, I can confirm that the building warrant for the demolition of the building has been issued.”