RESIDENTS of Peterhead's Rose Place are still in the dark as to who owns a pothole-ridden car park.
Angry residents recently complained about the state of the car park which, they say, could be a danger to children.
The car park has been in a state of disrepair for the past two years and the recent inclement weather has further added to the dama
ge with a four-feet wide depression created which regularly fills with water when it's raining.
The folk of Rose Place now fear for the safety of young children from the housing estate as the ever-deepening hole creates a possible drowning risk.
Speaking to the Buchanie last month, one resident said: "The hole had filled up with rain water to the point where it was overflowing and running into my neighbour's garden, but worse than that it could be a risk to children and the water is filthy.
"We telephoned the council regarding the car park and it told us that it did not own the land and therefore it was not their problem.
"Urgent repair work really has to be done because at the moment it's an accident waiting to happen," she added.
Confirming the council's stance last week, a spokesman said: "This car park, along with others in the area, was under the control of the Scottish Prison Service.
"A couple of years ago the Scottish Government approached Aberdeenshire Council with a view to taking these areas over. A cost for the work to bring the areas up to adoptable standard was sent to the Scottish Government but no reply saying they wanted the work done has ever been received.
"Therefore the car park is not maintained by Aberdeenshire Council and inquiries should be directed either to the Scottish Government of the Scottish Prison Service," he added.
Meanwhile, local councillor Stephen Smith,who has been investigating ownership of the car park for the past two weeks, says he was hunting down an official at Scottish government level.
"It appears that responsibility may rest with them as successors to the Scottish Prison Service, then Scottish Special and then Scottish Homes, "he said. "To-date I am still awaiting a response, but hopefully we can get to the bottom of this soon," he added.
Editor's footnote: The quote received from Aberdeenshire Council was omitted in error from our February 23 report.
