Fire at abandoned Edinburgh bowling club building was deliberate, say police

Wilful fire-raising is suspected after a blaze at abandoned portable cabins at the former Colinton Mains Bowling Club on Sunday night.

Police are treating the fire as wilful.

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It is understood the club closed about three years ago and the site reverted to council ownership, but the cabins have remained on the site and have been subjected to several break-ins.

The site has been earmarked by the council for 20 new homes, but no planning application has yet been submitted.

Colinton/Fairmilehead Labour councillor Scott Arthur tweeted that he was “really sad” to hear the building had been set alight, but it was reassuring that nobody had been hurt.

He added: “The council needs to accelerate its plans to build homes on the site.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Around 7.15pm on Sunday August 15, police were called to a report of a fire at an abandoned building next to a bowling club on Oxgangs Road North. No-one was injured. Officers are treating the fire as wilful and inquiries are continuing.”

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