WORK on a former care home is no closer to starting, despite plans to hire a caretaker to look after the building.

A sign offering a “development opportunity” was put in place at Templedean Hall, on Haddington’s Florabank Road, in February.

Rettie Development is looking for parties to come forward to transform the building, although no asking price has been placed on the site, and, currently, the building is still being marketed.

Callum Colquhoun, a community warden in the town, told members of Haddington’s Community and Police Partnership (CAPP) at the group’s meeting that he had spotted an advert online looking for a caretaker for the building.

Previously, concerns about youngsters going into the former nursing home were raised at the town’s community council meeting.

Last May, Constable Lynn Black told members police had received half a dozen calls about youngsters going into the building.

The headteacher of the town’s King’s Meadow Primary School had also been in touch about the issue and PC Black said at the time: “There’s an element of nosiness with the kids.

“It’s perfect, it’s got a roof and it is a den for them but I’m going to reiterate to them the safety aspect.

“Breaking in is a crime.” Speaking after the meeting last month, Mr Colquhoun confirmed that things had gone quiet in terms of anti-social issues surrounding the building.

He told the Courier the building was now secure but was keen to see a caretaker employed to minimise the risk of any further incidents.

No plans for the building currently have planning permission, although proposals have been submitted for flats in previous years.

Similarly, plans showing an extension and renovation of the building to form a 60-bed care home were drawn up by Steve Raine Architecture.

The two-storey building, which was designed by architect John Alexander Carfrae, dates back to 1911.

Since then it has been a girls’ home, children’s home and a nursing home.

However, it has fallen into disrepair and become a target for vandals in recent years.