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Roof timbers from old Kirkcaldy building fall on road

The roof of the long derelict Nairn building has started to cause concern.

By David Blackwood
News Desk
CONCERNS have been raised about the safety of the derelict Nairn's building on Victoria Road after the recent bad weather sent timbers plummeting onto the road below.
Ruth Blackwood, of Kirkcaldy, had a near miss when falling wood nearly hit the car in front of her.

She said: "We were driving up Victoria Road during one of the heavy rain storms. Fortunately, because the rain was so bad there were only two cars on the road.

"As we approached Nairn's, three or four large pieces of timber fell from the roof and landed right in front of the car ahead of us, which had to swerve. If it had come down on a windscreen it would have done the person sitting there some serious damage.

"I have seen it happen there before.

''Once when I passed by there was even a piece of masonry in the road."
The building, which is owned by Scottish Enterprise, has lain derelict since the early 80s.

Neil Mitchell, Fife Council's team leader for building standards and safety, said it was the responsibility of the building's owners to perform essential maintenance, however, in extreme cases it could intervene.

He said: "The onus is on the owner but if there is an immediate danger we should be contacted.

''We would react to that and inspect the building and if there is time, give the owners the chance to repair it.

"We do have the power to deal with immediately dangerous buildings if things are about to fall off or collapse.

''We can go in to the building or get a contractor in. These powers are essentially a safety measure and go as far as closing pavements and such like."

He added that building services were following the case up, and if they saw anything dangerous they would take it up with the owners.

A spokesman for Scottish Enterprise said it had been made aware of the concerns.

He said: "We are in the process of investigating the roof, which we hope to have completed very soon and we will be taking immediate action should the roof pose a safety threat.

"In the longer term, we are working jointly with Fife Council with the aim of making the site attractive and cost-effective to private sector development."

HI Betty, once again thank you for posting these articles for us. Why is it that they are letting Kirkcaldy get so run done, it is so hard to imagine just what it is like, not the Kirkcaldy I remember, there must be someone who could get things moving and get things on track to help with jobs and make the town look like people live there and not run down and derelict looking. It is sad to see that happen. Not sure what happened with the photos, I will check on it for you.

Why should Scottish Heritage do anything about the roof or indeed the building at all? They get their cash straight from the taxpayer at no effort at all.
Sell the land off and convert to something useful