Glaisnock house boarded up by Council over safety fears as teens gather to drink

It comes after we told you last week how children as young as ten have been spotted drinking and smoking at the abandoned mansion in Cumnock.

The local authority have now stepped in to secure the privately-owned building.

They insist the responsibility to look after the house belongs to the owners but they will still act as a ‘safety net’.

Terrified neighbours to the mansion told the Cumnock Chronicle how they have been living in fear watching up to 30 youths flock to the ‘drink and drug den’ every night.

"They branded the mansion a ‘death trap’ and said it is only a matter of time until someone is killed.

Now the local community is desperate for more action to be taken before any sinister consequences happen.

A spokesperson for East Ayrshire Council said: “A building standards surveyor visited the Glaisnock House site on Wednesday, May 29 2019.

“It was noted that a fire exit door to the rear of the building was unsecured.

“Under Section 29 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 works have been instructed to board up the door to secure the building at ground level.

“Building owners are responsible for preventing their buildings falling into a dangerous condition.

“The powers given to building owner local authorities by the Act do not diminish this responsibility but are merely a ‘safety net’ that must be used to protect the public when it appears to a local authority that, for whatever reason, a building owner has failed in their duty to fulfil this responsibility.

“The protection of the fabric of the building in general is therefore not a matter considered by building standards legislation.”