A council property in Aberfeldy that has lain empty for more than two years could provide much-needed housing, a local man claims.
Ronald Williams described the council’s lack of progress in letting or selling the property in Moness Terrace ”a disgrace”.
”So many people have made inquiries about it,” said Mr Williams, who lives nearby with partner Mary Johnson. ”There are quite a few families who would love to live in the property, it is a shame.
”It is frustrating and is devaluing our property. There is also the question of lost revenue from rent.”
For the first year the property lay empty, Mr Williams said he did the garden to ensure it did not bring the area down though he said the council had subsequently taken the task on.
Mr Williams said many people, including immigrants from eastern Europe who had come to the town to work, would be delighted to take on the property as it stands.
Its last tenant lived there for more than 40 years
The couple have enlisted MSP Murdo Fraser in their battle to have something done about the property and he took up the issue at the highest levels with Perth and Kinross Council, which promised the matter was in hand.
Mr Fraser backed their concerns, and is also pressing for action.
Asked about the lengthy delay, a spokesman for the council explained: ”This property is not part of the council’s mainstream housing stock, but is a tied property managed by the council’s property services. Such properties have been traditionally used as homes for caretakers, etc.
”We have plans to transfer the property over to our mainstream housing stock so that it can be let out as a council property, but this is a legal process that takes some time.
”The flat will have to be refurbished to the required standard before we can let it as a council property, and so we also have to make sure that budgets are in place.
”In the meantime, we are monitoring the condition of the property to ensure that it does not deteriorate.”