The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fears fire-raisers will target vacant hotel
Concerns for future of abandoned ‘eyesore’ already damaged by a blaze
Locals fear an abandoned hotel could be burned to the ground unless it is given a long overdue new lease of life.
The Tudor-style Lundin Links Hotel, a landmark on the main A915 tourist route to St Andrews and the East Neuk, closed three years ago and was damaged by a fire at the end of last year.
Now residents are worried fire-raisers will start a more serious blaze which could endanger people living nearby.
Claims that squatters had moved in prompted an inspection by Fife Council this week but officers found no evidence of anyone living in the C-listed building.
Councillor Colin Davidson warned the “eyesore” could suffer the same fate as two other vacant Fife buildings recently ravaged by fire, the former Viewforth High School and Denbeath Miners Welfare Institute.
He accused owner Keith Punler, of Balado-based Kapital Assets, of brushing off his attempts to arrange a meeting to discuss the site’s future.
Kapital Assets bought the building after approval was given to partially demolish and convert it into sheltered housing in 2012.
Mr Davidson said: “My concern is that we are going to end up with another Denbeath miners’ club or Viewforth High School and the place will go up in flames.
“If it goes on fire one night or someone gets trapped, suddenly people will ask what the council has done about it.
“I have been trying since the day I was elected to meet with Mr Punler but he has made no serious attempt to engage at all.”
Mr Davidson insisted that all options must be considered, whether they involved demolition or retention of the building.
The Courier contacted Mr Punler’s office but he did not respond to attempts to speak to him.
Neil Mitchell, the council’s building standards and public safety service manager, said: “We carried out a perimeter inspection this week to make sure that the security fencing around the property is appropriate and intact.
“We also checked that the building was secure at ground floor level.
“We’re satisfied that the owners have taken steps that reasonably prevent access and we have no power to do anything more on the grounds of public safety.”
Directors of Kapital Assets gave notice in December last year that the company was to be dissolved, with its property going to the Crown, but striking off action was later discontinued.
The fire at Viewforth High School, in Kirkcaldy, on Monday caused significant damage to the 19th century building which pupils vacated in June, last year.
Denbeath Miners Welfare Institute, in Buckhaven, was destroyed by fire in August.
People have been charged in connection with both incidents.
My concern is that we are going to end up with another Denbeath miners’ club or Viewforth High School. COUNCILLOR COLIN DAVIDSON