The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Council prepares to start repairs on damaged block of flats
Councillor calls for ‘eyesore’ block of flats to be demolished and replaced with new housing
A Fife councillor has called for a block of flats to be hauled down, almost a year after a car ploughed into it.
Householders had a miraculous escape after a BMW rammed into Erskine Court in Methil on June 13 last year.
One of the maisonettes was so badly damaged, disabled tenant William Wallace had to be rehomed.
Now, as Fife Council finally prepares to begin repairs on the house, Methil councillor John O’Brien has branded the entire block “an eyesore” and claimed it should be demolished and replaced with new housing.
He said repairs should have been carried out long ago and added: “I get people complaining and asking what the council is going to do about it. The bottom line is Erskine Court is past its sell-by date and the whole block should be demolished.”
The SNP councillor, who has made repeated calls for repairs over several months, said: “We are talking about regenerating the whole area and this could be a starting point.”
Mr O’Brien said the 16 flats were between 40 and 50-years-old.
“It’s maybe time to level them and spruce up Lower Methil,” he said.
“People are fed up. It’s an eyesore that has been neglected for years.”
Mr Wallace told previously how his empty flat had been plundered by thieves as he lived out of a carrier bag at his brother’s house.
He described the car smashing into the building like a bomb going off as plaster flew off the kitchen wall and hit him on the head.
Alistair Black, Fife Council’s housing manager for Levenmouth, said work to repair the flat at Erskine Court should begin next month.
“It’s taken a number of months to find out what work is needed as there was substantial structural damage to this building,” he said.
“We’re still waiting on results from some of our investigations but all being well work to repair this property should start early next month.”
He added: “We’re continuing to work with the tenant and have offered other suitable accommodation, which was declined.”
We are talking about regenerating the whole area and this could be a starting point. COUNCILLOR JOHN O’BRIEN