Fife Council to raise substantial barrier around unsafe building

Fife Council is spending more than £9,000 on fencing to keep people out of a dilapidated building.

The galvanised barrier, standing 8ft high and 200ft long, will be set up around Corriemar, an “unsaveable” listed property in the middle of Silverburn Park in Leven.

The park is undergoing significant improvements in an effort to increase visitor numbers and the old dowager’s house is not considered safe for members of the public.

Levenmouth area manager Dave Paterson said warning signs and temporary heras fencing had proved no obstacle to intruders.

“Signs have not been sufficient and heras fencing is a very light structure that can just be removed,” he said.

“We’ve been fishing it out of the pond and the undergrowth.

“In this instance, the building of a robust barrier is seen to be the only way to properly manage the risk.

“This approach is a cost effective and permanent way of ensuring that visitors are in no doubt that the site should not be routinely visited.”

As well as installing the fence and an access gate, a significant amount of undergrowth and overhanging branches may also have to be removed.

However, councillors were told project leaders are confident all the works will come within a £10,000 budget.

The council and Fife Employment Access Trust plan to create a campsite near the building, which, it is hoped, will eventually be demolished.

Due to its listed status, a study is being carried out to satisfy the concerns of Fife Historic Buildings Trust. Mr Paterson said: “There is no quick decision to be made on it.”