Fife Council has taken court action to secure a derelict hotel following years of complaints.
Officers obtained permission on Friday to access the Category C-listed Lundin Links Hotel, which has become a magnet for vandals since it closed in 2014.
And work to board up the doors and windows will begin on Wednesday.
The Tudor-style building occupies a prominent plot in Lundin Links.
It was bought by developers Kapital Residential, which received planning permission seven years ago to covert it into 35 flats.
However, the work has never started and the once-popular venue has become an eyesore, with almost every window smashed.
Most recently, vandals daubed Satan 666 on the walls after gaining entry.
But there have also been fires in the past and a tree fell on a parked car.
‘Somebody could be trapped inside and killed’
Community council chairman Peter Aitken is relieved action is finally being taken.
But he said the responsibility should lie with the developer.
“We’ve been campaigning for some time,” he said.
“But this is only part of the story. The other part is what’s actually happening at the site?”
Mr Aitken said the building had become popular with “derelict building tourists” who gained entry and posted videos online.
“Several years ago one lot lit a fire and the whole place almost burned down. There were eight fire appliances,” he said.
“We’re all worried it will happen again unless it’s secured.
“And next time somebody could be trapped inside and killed.”
He added: “The developer is supposed to make sure the building is secure.
“He’s been asked by me, by the council, the MSP, the MP and we’ve now had enough.
“I’m glad the council went to court and got a court order. We’ve been pushing for years.”
Lundin Links Hotel work could take three days
Council workers will use a hydraulic lift to access the top windows in the five-storey building.
And the work could take three days.
It is understood the delay in building the flats is due to a dispute between the developer and Scottish Water over a new drainage system.
Kapital Residential director Keith Punler told The Courier in September that coronavirus had also had an impact.
But he could not be contacted regarding the latest concerns.
However, Fife Council planning manager Alastair Hamilton confirmed: “Work to board up the windows and doors of the hotel will be done this week to protect the integrity of the listed building and make sure it is wind and watertight.”
Kapital Residential also owned Greenfield House in Alloa, which has now been bought back by former owners Clackmannanshire Council.
The council agreed the move after planning permission to convert it into sheltered housing lapsed and the building fell into disrepair.
