Plea for Hamilton Hall's owner to get in touch

Rosemary Dewar, The Citizen, 23 October 2008

Fife Council wants the owner of a landmark building behind the Old Course to get in touch.

Concern is growing over the red-sandstone former university residence, Hamilton Hall, sold in 2004 for a reputed £20 million and marketed as 'St Andrews Grand' a luxury shared ownership club.

Despite assurances that all is well, it has lain untended and now open to the elements since work stopped there more than a year ago.

With the approach of the Open Championship in 2010 and with it inevitable global television coverage, there are fears in the town that time is running out for any building work to be carried out before the cameras roll in.

This week, council heritage planner Diane Barbary told the Citizen the premises were: "of considerable historic and townscape significance" in St Andrews.

"As with all listed buildings, we're very much concerned that it's adequately maintained, but responsibility for this is with the owner.

"As steps aren't being taken to ensure that the building is wind and watertight and is not deteriorating, discussions are being sought by the council with the property owner and the situation is currently under review," she explained.

Hamilton Hall, owned by David Wasserman of Rhode Island-based Real Estate Capital LCC, is now on Scotland's Buildings 'At Risk' Register.