Fire at old Dobbies site was ‘deliberate’
A BLAZE at a derelict garden centre in Dalgety Bay is being treated as “wilful” by police.
Fire crews raced to the former Dobbies Garden Centre, at the entrance to the town, shortly after 4.30am on Sunday and were in attendance for several hours.
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 4.38am on Sunday October 23 to reports of a derelict building alight at Hillend Industrial Park, Dunfermline.
“Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances to the scene and firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.
“There were no casualties and crews left the scene shortly after 7.30am.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed an investigation had been launched into the incident and they believe the fire was started deliberately.
“Around 4.50am on Sunday October 23, officers received a report of a fire at a premises on Ridge Way, Dalgety Bay,” they said. “Officers assisted with traffic management.
“It is being treated as wilful and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Last October, planning permission was given by Fife Council for a new B&M store on the site but work has not yet started on the development.
The retail firm has plans to demolish the old Dobbies and build a new home store at Ridge Way along with a garden centre.
Local councillor David Barratt is keen for work on the site to progress so it doesn’t attract further anti-social behaviour.
“As long as it remains a derelict building, it will attract people who want to burn it down,” he said.
“We should have learned from the primary school.
“There were multiple attempts to set that on fire and eventually one took hold.
“It needs to be demolished as soon as possible and it would be good to have an update on when that is planned.
“They (B&M) submitted the proposal to demolish it earlier this year following them getting planning permission at the end of last year.”
A Dobbies spokesperson confirmed the site is still to be sold to B&M.
“Regrettably there was a fire at our Dalgety Bay site. The store has been closed for a number of years and is currently pending sale to B&M,” they said.
“We would like to thank the emergency services for their response.”
B&M were contacted for comment but had not responded by the time the Press went to print.