A plastic surgeon has failed to comply with a council order to clear a “farcical” blockade from one of the north-east’s oldest docks.
Pralhad Kolhe, who owns part of the bay at Cove Harbour, has so far defied Aberdeen City Council’s orders to remove the boulders and rocks he dumped at the pier in an attempt to prevent the community from storing their vessels there.
Mr Kolhe has been embroiled in a long-standing legal battle with the Cove Fishermen’s Association, whose families have worked from the site for generations, after he ordered them to remove their small boats last year.
The surgeon, who lives in the large white house overlooking the harbour, has also previously posted red warning tickets on cars parked in the area, and erected signs indicating the harbour is private property.
In December, Mr Kohle dumped four boulders and rocks at the pier in an attempt to stop the seamen from easily accessing their boats.
However last month, council officers made contact with Mr Kolhe, telling him that his blockade – which was described by local councillors as “farcical” – should be removed so the public can have access to the popular historic site.
Almost one month on, very little change has taken place at the site, apart from the removal of bright red, hi-visibility plastic barriers that had been erected alongside the boulders.
Last night, Jim Adam, the leader of Cove Fishermen’s Association, said it was frustrating the stone barriers had not been removed as ordered, and that the effort made to seemingly comply with the council’s demand have only made the site more dangerous.
Mr Adam said: “Somebody – I don’t know if it was Kolhe – removed the plastic hi-visibility barriers that were stuck to the boulders, which actually makes it more dangerous because now cars can’t see those boulders in the dark.
“Why those have disappeared I have no idea, but a lot of people were surprised that they did.
“I guess he can just stonewall it and not remove the boulders, but the council must have something else up their sleeves if he refuses to comply.”
An spokesman for Aberdeen City Council said that discussions with Mr Kolhe were still ongoing.
The surgeon declined to comment last night.