Red tape hits demolition of Dunblane wall
New twist in complicated repair saga
Demolition of part of a collapsed wall in Dunblane has been delayed by councillors in the latest twist in a longrunning saga.
The wall, which separates a section of pavement at Ledcameroch on the B8033 Perth Road from private land, has been cordoned off for more than two years.
Stirling Council has so far been unsuccessful in contacting the owner of the wall, who is believed to now live overseas.
Sections of the wall have been falling onto the B8033 roadway, with the temporary footpath closure period due to end next May.
Earlier this year, the council’s environment and housing committee, who had been petitioned by residents to step in and repair it, agreed instead to the demolition of the wall. Officials said it posed a risk to pedestrians if the temporary footway closure was lifted, particularly young children.
Since then an unnamed benefactor has come forward offering to repair the wall at their own expense.
At a meeting of the environment and committee meeting last Thursday, however, members heard that halting the demolition process may be even more complicated than first thought.
Committee members could not vote to change their decision without first voting to lay aside council standing orders, which state a decision cannot be overturned within six months.
Only full council, however, has the power to vote to rescind standing orders therefore the matter has to first be forwarded to its next meeting at the end of the June.
Council officials said they expected there to be some kind of conclusion to discussions with the benefactor, and for either work or the demolition to start, within 12 weeks.
Committee convener Councillor Jim Thomson said: “I do agree that was the decision of the committee however we have had a valid request from the community council that is worthy of consideration.
“I’m of the view if the benefactor can do the work to the satisfaction of both Stirling Council and Historic Scotland - because it is a listed wall - then that’s probably a preferred route. But equally we can’t leave it open ended. Can we see if it can be done within the 12 week timeframe?”
Tory group leader Councillor Neil Benny said the committee had taken the decision to demolish the wall but didn’t have the power to rescind the decision within six months.
He added: “If we do have a different course of action we would have to have another paper come back and for the committee to have two-thirds majority to rescind the six month rule.”
Senior manager infrastructure Brian Roberts said: “The debate held at committee was around whether the council should step in and take on liability for the wall, with the decision being demolition of the wall in the minimum length of time. However, the preferred option is to rebuild the listed wall. It’s in the spirit of what we should be doing as a council.”
Dunblane Tory councillor Alastair Majury said: “The preferred solution would be to have the wall repaired but the expression of the community was for it [the footway] being opened as soon as possible.”
However, Dunblane Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache said: “The solution to repair the wall has only come up recently and that occurred after the decision of the committee so I think it’s very reasonable to give a small amount of time.
“I agree there is a need to get it open but to give a small amount of time would be the best solution for the community.”
The committee clerk, however, advised that the committee did not have the authority to suspend standing orders and members agreed they had “no other option” but to defer any decision until after the full council could consider the standing orders matter on June 27.
In the meantime discussions are to continue between council officials and the benefactor.