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Leven High Street fire: Teenager charged with weekend incident

Leven High Street
A section of Leven High Street remains fenced off. Image: Steve MacDougall / DC Thomson.

A teenage boy has been charged in connection with a devastating fire on Leven High Street.

The 17-year-old was arrested on Monday afternoon following the blaze at the former Masterton’s jewellers’ shop at the weekend.

It was the second huge fire to hit Leven town centre in less than three weeks.

However, police say there is no evidence to suggest the two incidents are linked.

Levenmouth community inspector Matt Spencer said officers had worked tirelessly in a bid to trace those involved in the Friday night  blaze.

And he added: “I don’t expect him to be the last to be dealt with in relation to this.”

Seven businesses remain closed as a result of fires

Mr Spencer was addressing worried business owners at a meeting on Monday afternoon.

Many have been suffering from a drop in trade since the first fire on November 8.

Leven High Street fire
Th scene after the first fire on Leven High Street. Image: Kenny Smith/ DC Thomson

And they are worried the second incident and more High Street restrictions could prove the last straw for them.

At least seven premises remain closed due to safety concerns and two separate sections of the High Street are fenced off.

A demolition order was served on the owners of Poundstretcher on Thursday, following the fire there.

And they have until December 13 to begin work to bring it down.

Legal notice served to make former Masterton’s safe

Meanwhile, it has now been revealed the owner of the empty Masterton’s building has been served a notice to make urgent repairs.

The roof suffered extensive damage and there is a risk of collapse.

Fife Council building standards officer Gary Nicol said fences would remain up until the work was done for safety reasons.

Firefighters at the scene of the second blaze. Image Steve MacDougall / DC Thomson

“Today we have served a legal notice on the building’s owners requiring them to repair the building,” he said.

“There is a period of three weeks to appeal – that’s the maximum time they have to start the work – and if it’s not done, we have the power to start the work ourselves.

“Tomorrow, we have an engineer going in to see if there are any protective works we can put in place in the meantime.

“The most urgent work for us is to get the High Street opened again.”

Working as quickly as possible

Leven Labour councillor Colin Davidson said: “We have seven businesses closed with over 100 people laid off.

“The purpose of today’s meeting is to listen to the business community and decide how we’re going to manage this crisis.

“It’s about moving forward as a group of people who live and invest in Leven.

“There is a lot of anger in the town but the police, the fire brigade and council officers are working as quickly as possible to get the High Street open again.”

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