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Fears have been raised about the safety of a dilapidated tenement block in the centre of a north-east town.
The building at Peterhead, which houses shops on the ground floor and flats above, is covered with scaffolding.
The 21 granite-built properties in Chapel Street were sold at auction last year after remaining empty for several years.
The new owner has failed to pay the scaffolding company for the hire of the rigging, however, and there is now a threat it could be removed.
Aberdeenshire Council building standards manager John McIntosh has written to local councillors highlighting concerns.
He said: “It has come to light that the new owner has not paid the scaffold company for the hire and the company has now advised the council that they are going to remove the scaffold.
“It is hoped the scaffold will remain in place to allow us to discuss the situation with the new owner and the scaffold company and reach a position of agreement that removes any risk to the public.”
Mr McIntosh said the council had made many attempts to contact the new owner but there had been no response.
He added: “We are confident that we are contacting the correct people. We have also been in discussions with the scaffold owner asking that they leave the scaffold in place to allow the council time to speak with the new owner.
“While the scaffold company is sympathetic regarding the council issue, they have given no guarantees that they will not dismantle the scaffold.”
Mr McIntosh said the scaffolding firm had given a deadline of last Sunday for removal of its equipment, but the scaffolding remained in place yesterday.
The three-storey block, numbered 16-24, went under the hammer in Glasgow in November and was sold to a developer for £108,000.
Edinburgh-based selling agent SVA Property Auctions and the council have declined to reveal the identity of the winning bidder.
Before going to auction, the site was marketed as a “development opportunity”, but bidders were warned the block would need significant refurbishment before it could be used again.
The condition of the roof has worsened over the years and rainwater has caused considerable damage inside flats at number 16.
The block was originally four terraced tenement buildings dating back to about 1885.
The flats sold are on the first, second and attic floors.
The business units at street level were not part of the deal and are not thought to be causing the council any concern.
Source: Press & Journal
The building at Peterhead, which houses shops on the ground floor and flats above, is covered with scaffolding.
The 21 granite-built properties in Chapel Street were sold at auction last year after remaining empty for several years.
The new owner has failed to pay the scaffolding company for the hire of the rigging, however, and there is now a threat it could be removed.
Aberdeenshire Council building standards manager John McIntosh has written to local councillors highlighting concerns.
He said: “It has come to light that the new owner has not paid the scaffold company for the hire and the company has now advised the council that they are going to remove the scaffold.
“It is hoped the scaffold will remain in place to allow us to discuss the situation with the new owner and the scaffold company and reach a position of agreement that removes any risk to the public.”
Mr McIntosh said the council had made many attempts to contact the new owner but there had been no response.
He added: “We are confident that we are contacting the correct people. We have also been in discussions with the scaffold owner asking that they leave the scaffold in place to allow the council time to speak with the new owner.
“While the scaffold company is sympathetic regarding the council issue, they have given no guarantees that they will not dismantle the scaffold.”
Mr McIntosh said the scaffolding firm had given a deadline of last Sunday for removal of its equipment, but the scaffolding remained in place yesterday.
The three-storey block, numbered 16-24, went under the hammer in Glasgow in November and was sold to a developer for £108,000.
Edinburgh-based selling agent SVA Property Auctions and the council have declined to reveal the identity of the winning bidder.
Before going to auction, the site was marketed as a “development opportunity”, but bidders were warned the block would need significant refurbishment before it could be used again.
The condition of the roof has worsened over the years and rainwater has caused considerable damage inside flats at number 16.
The block was originally four terraced tenement buildings dating back to about 1885.
The flats sold are on the first, second and attic floors.
The business units at street level were not part of the deal and are not thought to be causing the council any concern.
Source: Press & Journal