Aberdeenshire councillors have agreed to foot the bill for the demolition of a fire-ravaged north-east hotel.
The derelict Highland Haven on Shore Street, Macduff, was badly damaged in a blaze last month and is being torn down in the interests of public safety.
A report to a meeting of the full council yesterday said the local authority was having to undertake the work because the owners’ insurance policy would not cover the full cost and there were “no funds available” to hire architects and engineers.
Under national legislation, councils are required to carry out work in such cases in order to remove any potential danger to the public.
The authority’s director of infrastructure services, Stephen Archer, told councillors yesterday that the site will be “made safe” rather than cleared for redevelopment.
Under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, the cost of the work is ultimately recoverable from the owners or their insurance company.
It is expected that the site will be left with some type of solid hoardings at the front and rear.
Discussions with the owners are continuing, Mr Archer said.
Council leader Jim Gifford thanked council officials and the emergency services for their handling of the fire and the aftermath.
He said: “It was a fairly traumatic event for the centre of the town, the effect is still being felt.”
Troup councillor Mark Findlater said the hotel site was a “clear and present danger to public safety” in Macduff.
Banff councillor John Cox, speaking on behalf of his absent Troup colleague Hamish Partridge, said the important point was to establish what would happen next with the site.
Outgoing chief executive Colin Mackenzie, who is continuing in his role until his replacement Jim Savege starts in February next year, said he would instruct the area manager to meet local members “as quickly as possible” to discuss the future of the site.
The costs will be met initially from the council’s general fund working balance, with a view to reclaiming the expenditure from the owners’ insurance company.
The Press and Journal has been unable to contact the owner of the hotel.