Pushtosave BlackBullis steppedup

Villagers battling to save Killearn’s Black Bull Hotel are stepping up their campaign.

They are urgently seeking a meeting with the building’s owners, Punch Taverns, in a fresh bid to prevent it from being converted to flats.

Iain Howie, director of Killearn Community Futures Company, is one of around 300 people who have joined a `Save the Black Bull’ Facebook group.

He said:“We would like Punch to put the Black Bull on the market, at a realistic price to see if there is an entrepreneur who would come forward and take it over on an ownership basis.

“At the moment, it seems only to have been put up for sale on a landlord-tenant model and that is different from someone buying it, taking it over and investing their own capital.”

The hotel closed last year and since then Punch has failed to find new tenants to run the business.

Company bosses told the Observer last week business had declined and it was their belief the 13-bedroom complex was no longer viable.

Killearn Community Council has backed the conversion and while the plans are still under consideration by Stirling Council, one of its planners has already indicated they intend to recommend refusal.

The application has attracted around 60 comments and objections, most of them critical of the proposals.

In early March, Mr Howie chaired a meeting of about 70 villagers and there were differing views on the proposal.

He added:“There were people supporting residential development and others who were concerned about the possibility of losing another commercial property in the village.

“We have lost six commercial businesses over the 18 months including the Spar, butcher, bank and post office.

“The main conclusion was the group of residents would move ahead and discuss what options might be available for the building and do that with an open mind.”

The Save Black Bull Group is also concerned that without a hotel, the village will have no quality accommodation for tourists and village hall wedding guests. They are angry about the potential loss of job opportunities traditionally offered by the Black Bull to young people.

The group say:“We fully understand the wish for apartments including affordable housing in the village but believe there are better locations which are more suitable.”

Punch said last week:“We have taken the decision to look at other options for use which include providing much needed housing in the area. We have submitted a planning application on this basis and will let the process take its course with all interested parties being entitled to submit their opinions.”