COUNCILORS in West Dunbartonshire have agreed to sell land around a dilapidated cottage beside the Forth and Clyde canal.
THE owner of the dilapidated Ferrydykes Cottage in Old Kilpatrick wants to turn the building into a family home.
Members of West Dunbartonshire Council’s Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development (IRED) committee agreed this week to sell the land near Ferrydykes Cottage to Mr Malik, who acquired the property from Scottish Canals and Waterways in 2006 , for £20,000.
A report presented to the committee on Wednesday described the chalet as being in “poor condition”, with only the exterior walls remaining in place.
The building, which is currently on the register of buildings at risk, has no roof and major work will be needed to restore it to a habitable state.
During the meeting it was confirmed that the land would only be used as a garden associated with the chalet, with no further development there.
But the advisers still had questions.
Councilor Chris Pollock (SNP, Dumbarton) said: ‘I would just like to confirm that the public right of way will not be disturbed by the development of the garden?
A council officer confirmed access would only be from the area of land which Mr Mallik bought in 2006 from Scottish Canals.
Councilor Michelle McGinty (Labour, Leven) added: ‘It’s probably something we can’t enforce or anything, but I would just point out that he’s owned this property since 2006 and it’s obviously in such a state of disrepair that it requires complete renovation at this stage.
“I just hope we sell the extra land to allow it to be turned into a family home that will actually happen.”
Michelle Lynn, Assets Coordinator, said: ‘I believe when Mr Mallik bought it it was in poor condition, and that is what his intentions are – to bring it back into use as a family residence.
“We have stipulated that this can only be used as garden land – nothing can be built on it.”