A dilapidated former hotel in Crieff that has been described as being akin to a “deep dark forest” has received a much needed tidy-up.
Workmen have removed unsightly vegetation at the Kilt and Kelt Hotel formerly the Strathearn Hotel at the corner of King Street and Commissioner Street in Crieff.
Residents and local politicians had slammed the state of the former hotel, with Crieff community councillor Craig Finlay claiming a 20ft piece of guttering that fell from the building could have killed someone.
The crumbling state of the building was also attacked by tourism website operator Colin Lamont, who claimed there were a catalogue of issues that needed addressed, and said the site would not look out of place in a “deep dark forest.”
However, the work to remove the vegetation hanging from the building has been welcomed by Strathearn councillor Rhona Brock.
She said: “If the hotel starts to look better it might attract more buyers.
“It’s just a pity it’s taken them so long to come forward and do this.
“Hopefully now they will keep up to speed with the building and not let it go downhill any further.”
“I’m delighted this work has been done but I’m hoping they’re going to do a lot more.
“I hope they’ll take away a lot of the flaking paint to tidy it up even more.
“They’ve certainly tidied it up a bit already.
“We’re doing quite well down that end of town at the moment.”
Mr Finlay said he was pleased some clean-up work was now taking place at the site.
“It seems as though, following the council notice stating vegetation should be removed, workmen have been sent to do some remedial work,” he said.
“They’ve taken off the very mature buddleia which has been there for a couple of years. Hopefully, while they are up the ladder they’ve done some surveillance from height and as part of their orders have been asked to make it safe.
“Because the situation around the state of the building had become farcical due to the fact that it was so dangerous, local residents decided to put up bunting to draw attention to it and then a section of the gutter fell down, which I and others reported.
“The council then decided to do something about it and issued the repair notice to the owners.”
Ken Stoddard, who owns the Kilt and Kelt Hotel, was not available for comment.
He has said the building is for sale and interest has been expressed.