Officers’ Mess update

Demolition of the old officers’ mess on Ridge Way has now been completed and the site is expected to be available for industrial development soon. Some residents were understandably unhappy that a building of local historic significance has been lost, but as the site was not listed it was not in the council’s power to prevent the demolition on these grounds. We have worked with the owner of the site and the demolition contractor to save key items including the internal murals and stone crest.  Unfortunately and despite best efforts, the murals were not salvageable due to their brittle condition.  It was however possible to save the stone crest which was successfully removed by the contractors and has been donated to the Air Cadets.  We have since been in contact with Historic Scotland to enquire about the historic value of other wartime features in Dalgety Bay, including the former camp where a number of business units and the air cadets are now based.  Historic Scotland confirmed their designations team had visited the former camp buildings but concluded they do not meet the criteria for listing. Of more significance, Historic Scotland has decided to designate the Downing Point Artillery Battery as a Scheduled Monument. Built in 1914, the remains formed part of the inner defensive lines for the Firth of Forth have been deemed nationally important.

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