THE woman who failed to buy the house where economist Adam Smith spent his final years today attacked the city council for accepting £150,000 less than she offered.
Laura Strong offered £955,000 for Panmure House, just off the Royal Mile, but lost out to an £800,000 bid from the Edinburgh Business School – part of Heriot-Watt University.
Councillors backed the cheaper bid because the 17th century home will b
e converted into a study centre for business and economics, and will include a library consisting of early works of Smith and other Enlightenment figures.
However, Ms Strong said the council constantly "moved the goalposts" on its decision-making criteria – and said she wasted time and money as a result.
The 45-year-old from Warriston Crescent said she was "taking recommendations" on any further action, which could include a complaint to Scotland's public services Ombudsman.
Senior councillors have also raised fears of a legal challenge to the decision.
Ms Strong, who has restored several listed buildings over the past 20 years, wanted to turn Panmure House into a private family home with the help of award-winning conservation architects Nicholas Grove-Raynes, while also hosting cultural and community gatherings there.
But she said the council's aim to preserve "public access" was not made clear at the start. "If it was intended to retain the house as a public building, it shouldn't have been sold through a commercial agent," she said.
In a letter to council officials, she added: "From the moment the closing date was announced, the council goalposts appear to have moved daily. I find it intolerable that I have been omitted from any dialogue on the subject of the sale, or the decision-making process."
Ms Strong said: "My interest has never been for selfish gain or for the destruction of an important heritage landmark, but rather in a long-term custodial role for the building and the heritage it represents."
Academics and economists mounted a worldwide campaign to save the house for the nation, putting the council under increased pressure throughout the sale process.
Labour group leader Ewan Aitken today said that he was still concerned about the possibility of a legal challenge.
But the council's solicitor said she thought the department had acted "entirely reasonably and would withstand a challenge".
The full article contains 392 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
