The “crumbling” state of a former Crieff hotel is causing such concern that one resident has claimed it is a “health and safety” issue.
Colin Lamont who runs the goodcrieff.net website lists a catalogue of issues he claims need addressed regarding the Strathearn Hotel in King Street. He has been backed by two businessmen trying to transform the dilapidated building.
The former hotel is up for sale but Mr Lamont claims it “would not look out of place” in a “deep, dark forest”. He claims the building has a “number of defects”, which could lead to large chunks of it falling into the street unless it is made secure.
“King Street is a very busy part of Crieff, having access to one of the town’s largest car parks, a multitude of shops, and a plethora of pedestrian traffic at all times of the day,” Mr Lamont states on the website.
“There are numerous bushes growing out of the brickwork, increasing the rate of decay, loosening the bricks and mortar and allowing water and damp into the structure, leading to further decay not to mention bits of the building potentially falling on to pedestrians and vehicles below.”
Mr Lamont lists a series of faults associated with the building that he feels need addressed to ensure public safety. These include two chimney stacks leaning backwards into the former hotel, a down pipe swaying in the wind, window frames decaying and falling out and a rear window that is broken, which allows the weather “unimpeded” access.
He added: “Quite honestly, the building would not look out of place in a deep, dark forest somewhere. To have a building in this state of disrepair in a main street in a tourist town such as Crieff is astonishing.”
Crieff businessman William Frame, of Braemore Estates, agrees with Mr Lamont’s description of the building, calling it “an embarrassment for Crieff.”
“Iain Campbell, owner of Campbell’s Bakery in Crieff, and I have a scheme for the building but in order for that to happen we need negotiations with the owner,” he said.
“I’m involved with the Crieff Bid (Business Improvement District) project and we are trying to improve the town, but this site has been called the ‘hanging gardens of Babylon’ locally. It’s riddled with dry and wet rot.
“It’s disgraceful, but we’re trying to find a solution.”
Mr Campbell added: “We put a plan in place to extend the bakery and have some affordable homes. We contacted the council and they were quite receptive. However, the owner seems adamant he won’t sell.”
Owner Ken Stoddart said he is not in a position to respond to the comments but claimed he is open to negotiations regarding the sale of the building.