A Perthshire community has come together to find a solution in the wake of a “devastating” hotel fire that has been described as a “nail in the coffin” for the local economy.
Residents in the Glenshee area are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the fierce blaze that ravaged the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel in August, destroying around 30% of the building.
Around 50 firefighters and eight appliances took more than three hours to contain the blaze.
Witnesses spoke of hearing “explosions”. Fortunately the hotel was unoccupied.
Police later said the fire was not being treated as suspicious after carrying out a joint investigation with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Tony Thompson, chairman of Mount Blair Community Council, said community groups want a pub/restaurant to be built and followed by a phased development to boost the area, which he claims is “dying on its feet”.
The loss of the hotel and its implications for the community has repercussions for many groups with interests in the area as it lies on the Cateran Trail and is also part of the Cairngorms National Park.
Members of Mount Blair Community Council, Mount Blair Community Development Trust, Glenshee Tourist Association, Perth and Kinross Council and officials from the Cairngorms National Park recently held talks to try to look for a solution for the 2.5-acre site.
There will be a discussion of potential opportunities for the site at a public meeting on January 17.
Mr Thompson said the fire was “almost the final nail in the coffin” for the area as the hotel was the hub of Spittal but residents are keen to bring back its “buzz”.
“Spittal is a famous place but it has been a dire situation since the fire,” he told The Courier.
“We’ve lost the hotel and visitors that travel up the A93. It’s desolate up here and has been going downhill.
“Our thoughts are to try to do something ourselves but we will also tap into the expertise of the council and Cairngorms National Park.
“I’ve had lots of emails supporting the plan that would be to build a pub/small restaurant and then a function room in a phased development but overall it will be down to money.”
Councillor Bob Ellis, speaking as representative for the Blairgowrie and the Glens ward and also chairman of the Blairgowrie and East Perthshire Tourist Association, said the process to find a solution will be a lengthy one but he is reassured by the will of the community.
“Obviously the impact of the fire at the hotel had a devastating effect on the economy in the area,” he said. “The hotel was one of the stages for the Cateran Trail so people will now have to really think about where to lay their head at the end of the day.
“There is some distance between Kirkmichael and Glenshee so this may put people off.
“We need to try to find a resolution to the situation as soon as possible that will benefit everybody, and it is good to see various bodies all working together.”
Councillor Caroline Shiers, who also represents Blairgowrie and the Glens, feels the community are pulling together.
“For a small community there is a real wealth of talent there, with people having experience of tourism and the hotel trade, so that bodes well,” she added.
The public meeting on January 17 begins at 3pm at the Blackwater Hall on the A93.