Outrage over cynical demolition

May 9 2008

I'm delighted by councillor Douglas's involvement in the flagrant demolition of 3 Windmill Road (last week’s Advertiser).

I have stayed next door to the property for over eight years. I have met Shakil Ahmed on only three occasions and have never met his father, the purported owner, at all.

The house has been systematically neglected for all of this period. Shakil told me shortly after I moved in that he wished he had bought my house (No. 5) when it was for sale as its demolition would have led to better access for flats at No. 3.

His notion that either paint or roughcast had been applied in the last eight years is farcical. The building was the Duke of Hamilton's coachman's house and was an original sandstone build. It had never needed nor had roughcast applied at any stage in its life.

The owner had a number of tenants in the last eight years but never invested in the building. One of the tenants tidied up the garden whilst the next took down mature trees to let in more sun.

The house was not occupied at the time the roof was set on fire but had been occupied by gents who said they were Mr Ahmed's employees and who moved out a week or so before the fire.

I called the council the morning the demolition began and was told that the enforcement officer was out and I could not have his mobile number. I left mine and he called a week later. Public service or what?

He called again this morning, obviously having forgotten his earlier call but having read the Advertiser over the Bank holiday. SLC, too little too late!

The demolition was completed, essentially, within 48 hours. When I arrived home on the Thursday evening I met Shakil Ahmed on site and arranged for him to visit us later that evening and explain his plans for the site.

He duly arrived and explained to my wife and I that he wanted to build a six-bedroom family home with a gymnasium and sauna on the site. I explained that that could not be allowed and I'd trust that South Lanarkshire Council and Historic Scotland would agree.

No-one should be allowed to benefit from systematic and deliberate neglect of one of Hamilton's oldest and most important properties.

Councillor Douglas, I await your call with interest.

Calum Stewart, 5 Windmill Road, Hamilton.