Council chiefs are going to court to seize control of a “super dangerous” Perthshire hotel.
It follows growing concern about the derelict Strathearn Hotel building, in the centre of Crieff.
A question mark was placed over the 19th Century property after the company that owned it crashed last year.
Perth and Kinross Council has raised action at Perth Sheriff Court to take over the site.
The Courier understands the ultimate aim is to have the building demolished and the plot put on the open market for future development.
The local authority’s legal team has urged anyone with an interest in the hotel who wants to defend the action, to contact the sheriff clerk before the case calls on October 16.
Owner Xenon Developments was dissolved last year, after its director Angus Conservative councillor Derek Wann resigned.
Three years earlier, Mr Wann had revealed a multi-million-pound plan to turn the eyesore building into housing.
The title was transferred to the Crown earlier this year but has now been disclaimed -effectively meaning, at the moment, no one is in control of the building.
Ailsa Campbell, chairwoman of the Crieff Community Trust, welcomed the council’s court action.
“This seems like a positive step forward,” she said. “The building has become super dangerous.”
Ms Campbell, who runs neighbouring Campbell’s Bakery, said: “I’ve called the police several times recently because we’ve had children climbing onto the roof of our premises to get inside the hotel.”
She said: “The building is in such a state that I can’t think of anyone who would want to put money into it now. It needs to be torn down sooner rather than later.”
Mr Wann resigned from Xenon Developments before the firm was dissolved in November. He said he no longer has anything to do with the hotel.
A council spokeswoman confirmed proceedings had begun. “With the company as owner of the property having been dissolved and the building having been disclaimed by the Crown, the Strathearn Hotel is legally ownerless,” she said.
“As a result, we consider that there is no specific prospect of the building being made safe or being repaired and maintained to avoid further deterioration.”
She added: “Our case seeks the vesting of ownership for the Strathearn Hotel to the council to prevent dangers to public safety and to improve the local environment, which is blighted by the property’s current condition.
“Should this be successful, we would take the appropriate steps to see the site redeveloped.”
