Action at last on eyesore
The unsightly, and unsafe, scaffolding
ACTION is finally being taken over a building left wrapped in unsightly scaffolding for six months in Kirkcaldy’s east end.
Fife Council has confirmed the owner of the former Mountainline premises - a long-standing eyesore in the town centre - is finally due to carry out repair work on a dangerous part of the structure.
The move comes just weeks after residents and businesses in the area called for action over the scaffolding which has been erected outside the building for months with no work being done.
George Sweeney Jnr, local stone specialist, said he was asked to provide costings to the neighbouring property owners for carrying out masonry repairs to the chimneys, bay windows, skew stones and other areas of the building. He was told he could use the scaffolding, but found it was not of a suitable safety standard.
He said: “I was told the scaffolding had been up for some time and this surprised me as I did not see any scaffold company signs or scaff-tags which shows the scaffolding is being inspected regularly to comply with health and safety.”
Consequences
He added: “There is a serious risk of falling masonry from this building which could have serious or fatal consequences to anyone walking directly underneath.”
Scott Young, Fife Council lead officer (public safety), said: “The building owner was informed at our last meeting that Council contractors would move to make the building safe with all costs being recharged to the owner if site works did not progress immediately.
Ordered
“Since then the owner and builder have confirmed that stonework has been ordered and will be delivered next week. The scaffolding will be adjusted with signage and netting added in for the repair.”
He added it was the owner’s responsibility to ensure the use of a competent contractor and to follow correct procedure.
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Weather for Kirkcaldy
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South west
