An Edinburgh mum has called on developers to secure the site of a former hotel before local young people hurt themselves.
Lindsay Aitken, who has two teenage children and an eight-year-old, has shared images of the former Northfield House Hotel on Lasswade Road, which has been earmarked for a student accommodation development, in a state of disrepair.
The pictures show the building with several smashed windows and the grounds of the former hotel, which was frequented by locals regularly, filled with flytipped items including smashed up furniture.
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Lindsay says that there is concern in the community that young people could get hurt on the site as several of them have been seen throwing items through glass windows and smashing up furniture that was left behind in the building.
Lindsay, who is also chair of the Gracemenount management development trust, says she is worried that a child may become seriously hurt by the debris on site, or worse, if they were to become trapped in the building and a fair broke out.
“There has to be an enforcement order in place against the owners to ensure that the site is secured,” she said.
“I live close to the site and there is a lot of vandalism that goes on there because the former hotel site is not properly protected.
“There is a lot of antisocial behaviour that goes on at the property including graffiti, it is an eyesore for everyone who lives or works close by.
“I’m worried about the danger it could cause to children who have been seen throwing things out of the glass windows.
“What would happen if one of them were to become trapped in the building and it went up in flames, it is a danger to life in its current state.
“I think a lot of it is boredom from the kids as they see a vacant property as something to do. There is a lack of youth facilities in the immediate area.
“There is a private nursery opposite and it cannot be nice for the children who there to look at the site.
“I would have loved for it to have been reopened as something for the community instead of student housing but all we ask in the interim is that it needs to be tidied up with proper security in place.
“It is disrespecting the area and people could be put off living here with this going on.”
Lindsay is part of a group that is looking to complete a takeover of the nearby Gracemount Mansion which has fallen into a similar state of disrepair.
They hope to open the space as a community hub that would offer local young people a space they could enjoy in their own community.
Ian Murray MP has backed Lindsay and distressed local residents by calling on the developers to secure the site.
“Northfield House has unfortunately become a target for vandalism, fly-tipping, and anti-social behaviour.
“I have raised this on behalf of residents with Edinburgh City Council and I'm aware that they're now investigating with a view to taking enforcement action to resolve the problem, but it shouldn’t take the council to do that.
“Developers have a responsibility to keep their buildings secure for them and their neighbours. I hope that they act swiftly to ensure the building is cleared up and made secure."
