Dilapidated buildings frustration for council

FIFE COUNCIL has called on the Scottish Government to look at significantly improving the legislation dealing with dilapidated properties to provide a more robust approach to fixing this issue.

In a letter to Derek McKay, Minister for Planning and Local Government, Councillor Lesley Laird, executive member for business, enterprise, economy and planning, explained that while changes to the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 are proposed in relation to cost recovery, she is concerned that these changes will not go far enough.

Ms Laird said: “There are a number of aspects in the report that simply do not reflect our experience in Fife. Local people and businesses are fed up with these eyesore properties in their communities.”

The recently published Malcolm Fraser report on town centres encourages councils to take a more diverse approach to their use of town centre spaces but as Ms Laird highlights: “While this report offers some good ideas, for many businesses who are trying to trade next to one of these dilapidated properties, it simply detracts from their own business image and trading amenity and does not help our efforts in terms of town centre regeneration.

“The current raft of legislation is too cumbersome. We are asking the Scottish Government to simplify this and give local authorities a stronger remit.”