Owner Burke Maidlow will not be able to begin the reconstruction of the 140-year-old building after Arran-Elderslie Council supported a recommendation by Chief Building Official Craig Johnston to turn down another application for a building permit yesterday. Johnston says Maidlow did not get the permit because there have been no changes made to the plans as requested by the Municipality and a court judge. Johnston says Maidlow had two years to make the changes and hasn’t been doing his part to cooperate while the Municipality is giving him lots of opportunities to save the building. Johnston says Henderson Paddon Engineering did an inspection of the building plans and concluded it did not meet the specifications required to do the work safely. He says both Maidlow and the Municipality will have to go back to court in order to resolve the issue. In the meantime, Johnston is advising everyone not to enter or approach the building. He says the order from the Ministry of Labour to shut down all work on the Inn remains in effect. He says he hasn’t been inside the building in the last 18 months but with the amount of snowfall this past winter he can tell that the building is in total disarray. Johnston says he would like to see the entire building saved but if Maidlow doesn’t follow the recommendations they may have to tear down the West section that is causing health and safety concerns.
