A BORDERS heritage group has launched a scathing attack over the demolition of a ‘national asset’ 19th century farm building amid claims it was allowed to fall into a state of disrepair.

Scottish Borders Council’s assistant planning officer Cameron Kirk has “with much regret” endorsed an application from Mr D. Fleming, of M Fleming & Sons, for demolition of a former cart shed and granary at Winfield Old Farmhouse in Berwick-upon-Tweed

The disused building partially collapsed during Storm Arwen in November last year and is deemed unsafe.

As a category B listed building the shed is considered to be of “regional or local importance”.

The move to flatten it faced fierce opposition from Berwickshire Civic Society, who described the prospect as a “source of shame”.

A spokesperson for the society said: “This building has been allowed to deteriorate to the point where it was no longer able to stand adverse weather conditions. We note that a previous application to demolish was refused. There is a strong implication that the collapse of the building was not unwelcome to the applicants.

“The society is well aware that modern farming practice renders buildings of this nature redundant, and the maintenance of such buildings is a drain on the resources of the business.

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“However, the failure of the applicants to look after a national asset for Scotland, and the failure of the relevant authorities to inspect and compel maintenance for buildings of designated importance should be a source of shame for both camps.

“We are aware that it is highly unlikely that the application will be refused because the risk posed by further collapse will take priority. We are also aware that any attempt to require the owners to restore the building will be doomed to failure because they have no apparent interest in caring for buildings of significance. However, we oppose this application as a matter of principle.”

It was a view shared by the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, whose convenor, James Seabridge-Cooper, said demolition approval would “give the completely wrong message to owners of similar farm buildings”.

He has requested that Scottish Borders Council initiate a review of all its listed farm buildings to “ensure this situation is not repeated”.

A spokesperson for the structural engineering company CRA (Edinburgh) said: “At this time, the roof has collapsed and is supported on the first floor structure which itself is in a poor structural condition due to its age and its likely long-standing exposure to the elements.

“Given the unfortunate and indeed precarious condition of the building we consider that its retention is structurally difficult and perhaps not economically viable.”