Moray Council: Confusion over clear-up order at historic Oldmills site in Elgin
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Confusion surrounds whether the owner of an historic Elgin mill has been told to clean up the site.
Moray Council says an amenity notice was served on Patrick Thirkell to dispose of rubbish at Oldmills near the River Lossie in April.
And the local authority believes he is not complying with the order.
But Mr Thirkell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he was "surprised" to hear the notice had been served.
He said: "I know nothing about it. Everything there is to do with the repair of the mill."
Mr Thirkell added the council was being "vindictive" and had stopped his efforts to develop a fish farm at the site as well as plans to install security.
He is writing to the local authority seeking clarification over the amenity notice.
If the order has been correctly served, the council will be able to tidy the site then bill Mr Thirkell for the work.
All three of the local ward's councillors – John Divers, Graham Leadbitter and Peter Bloomfield – visited the mill earlier this year.
They found gas and oil canisters plus scores of beer cans at the 10-acre site.
However Mr Thirkell who lives in Hopeman says the cans are part of a heat recovery project being developed by someone else.
Neighbours on Oldmills Road have complained for years that the area is being used as a dumping ground.
The council has made several attempts to have the area cleared, including serving an amenity notice about six years ago.
There have been several fires at the site.
One blaze in February 2022 partly destroyed the mill building which dates back to the 13th century. The road to it was subsequently closed for two days.
Cllr Divers (Elgin South, Labour) said: "This is exhausting. It’s been going on for about 20 years.
"It really is hell and it’s a total waste of time, money and energy."
Previously Oldmills had been a coffee shop popular with locals and tourists.
Cllr Leadbitter (Elgin South, SNP) felt the current state of the building was a "significant concern" for people in the area.
He said: "There is clearly a range of challenging issues that need to be addressed and some are easier to deal with than others.
"The decision to carry out further planning enforcement action demonstrates the seriousness of the ongoing issues."
Cllr Bloomfield (Elgin South, Conservative) believes the council will now go in and clear the area and charge Mr Thirkell.
He said: "There were a total of ten 25-gallon oil drums there as well as gas canisters there.
"I raised this with the fire service because if there was a fire there would be a risk of explosion."
A Moray Council spokesperson said: “Due to the build-up of material an amenity notice was issued in April 2023 requiring materials be removed by July 5 2023.
"The notice has not been complied with and the council will progress this with the landowner."
