Kirriemuir conservation chiefs are set to take instant action to address safety concerns as the enforcement clock ticks down on the developer of a dilapidated former town centre hostelry.
Businessman John Cape has been given until February 13 to complete a stated schedule of works associated with the redevelopment of the old Hooks Hotel on Bank Street and a warehouse at Ogilvy Close.
The building has been the subject of local concerns for some time, and if the works are not completed by next week Angus Council will instruct them and look to recover the money from the developer.
Mr Cape had applied for almost £64,000 of heritage funding under the Kirriemuir Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), but the support was pulled and the developer told he had to put the necessary repairs in place.
The latest CARS steering group meeting heard that he has until February 14 to appeal the matter, but whilst the body awaits the next development, steering group members said they hoped council building standards officers could cut back roofing material which has been hanging down and reportedly struck at least one passer-by.
The state of the prominent property has left locals in uproar since work there stopped.
Hook’s was sold for almost £250,000 in 2005 but lay empty for close to 10 years before Mr Cape’s Kilnburn Developments came forward with the plan for a shop and residential conversion of the pub and warehouse.
The enforcement notice requires temporary rainwater drainage and “robust” roofing until slates can be relaid.
Kirriemuir councillors on the CARS group voiced concerns about the green roof covering being dangerous as well as unsightly because it is now flapping around at street level.
Alongside the enforcement notice matter, CARS members approved a trio of small grant applications under the terms of a fund which has injected some £1/2 million into conservation of town centre buildings.
The owners of the Gairie Inn at Schoolwynd are to receive support of just over £4,000, representing 85% of the cost of repairing and upgrading the timber windows to the extensive property.
And schemes at Glengate and Bank Street will each receive the maximum grant of £20,000 for renovation projects.
The Bank Street plan involves stone and roof repairs to the former church centre, which is in the process of being purchased by a developer for conversion to two townhouses.
The other scheme, at the category C-listed 19th Century building at 6 Glengate, will see the conversion of the upper part of the property to two two-bedroomed flats.
