A community council has called for action to be taken against an abandoned building in Pitlochry fearing it is attracting rats and other vermin to the tourist town.
The former Bakers’ Oven property on the town’s Atholl Road has been derelict for around a decade and concerned residents are worried that it has led to an increase in the number of rodents being spotted in the area.
Jim Laurenson, Pitlochry and Moulin Community Council chairman, is urging residents to make their complaints heard by Perth and Kinross Council.
Mr Laurenson said: “It’s a sad state of affairs that we have a tourist town like this and we have rats running about.
“Whether they’re coming from there (the Bakers’ Oven) or from the burn we don’t know but it’s a property that’s been vacant for a long period of time.
“The building is absolutely done. It’s a disgrace.
“It’s a difficult one but the place just needs to be torn down.
“It’s been empty for about ten years.”
Local Independent councillor Xander McDade has been calling on the council to take action on the property for the last two years – though he has recently been assured that the building has come under new ownership and they plan to make improvements.
Councillor McDade said: “Since it’s closure over ten years ago the former Bakers’ Oven has increasingly fallen into disrepair and become an eyesore in the centre of town.
“Over the past two years I have repeatedly asked the council to take enforcement action on this issue.
“Since the recent change of ownership they have been able to positively engage with the new owners about improving the external appearance of the building and I’m assured improvements will be made in the near future.”
Perth and Kinross Council said the property was last inspected by Building Standards in 2018 after concerns were raised about loose signage.
A council spokesperson said: “The assessment at that point determined that the building itself was generally sound and presented no significant Building Standards concerns.
“The loose signage was subsequently re-affixed by the owner and no further issues have been raised with us since then.
“Alongside this, staff from our Vacant Property Development initiative are in regular contact with the property owner, who is working on a proposal for the site.”
The council also stated that it had visited the location twice in the last year and surveys had been carried out by their contracted pest control company.
The spokesperson said: “While we undertook to remind neighbouring residents and businesses regarding the use of appropriate pest control measures and disposal of food waste, the area was found to be clean and not affected by rubbish which would attract vermin.
“Notwithstanding this, the area will be continued to be monitored should we receive any future reports of possible vermin.”
