The community council have raised concerns with North Ayrshire Council regarding the ongoing construction works at Fairlie Castle.
The historical keep, which received planning permission to be developed into a private property in 2009, and was renewed again in 2014, has come under scrutiny from campaigners in the village who have produced a leaflet which has been sent round the local community.
Fairlie Community Council have been informed by these campaigners that there has been ‘excavation and destruction of banks of glen started with potential undermining of the castle itself’ - although there is no scheduled monument consent. These concerns have been sent on to the North Ayrshire Council
A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “This site has been visited by planning services officers on a number of occasions. At the last visit, officers were satisfied that the works being undertaken were in compliance with the planning permission, comprising mainly of site investigation works to inform foundation design, archaeological investigations and the formation of service trenches. It was noted that none of the excavation works are taking place within 3m of the Castle.
“Officers are satisfied that the works are progressing in accordance with the planning permission and note that the developer is liaising with Historic Environment Scotland in relation to the Scheduled Monument issues.”
A spokeswoman for Historic Environment Scotland said: “Excavation in the glen would be outwith the scheduled area, which is defined by the base of the tower. The area between the tower and the side of the glen formed the barmkin (a medieval defensive enclosure) or courtyard of the castle, and this was subject to archaeological excavation in 2015-16 in line with a condition of the existing planning consent. North Ayrshire Council are therefore the responsible authority for ensuring compliance with this consent and any associated excavation.”
Asked whether an application for scheduled monument consent had yet been received from the developer, the spokeswoman said: "Scheduled monument consent (SMC) has previously been granted by Historic Scotland for initial survey, scaffolding and investigation works at the tower. The site owner has been in discussion with Historic Environment Scotland regarding an application for SMC for consolidation and restoration of the tower, but no application has been submitted to date. It is an offence to carry out works to a scheduled monument without SMC. SMC applications can be viewed on our portal at http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/. Historic Environment Scotland has a duty to notify landowners where an application affects their land, but cannot notify third parties that have no ownership or other property interest.”