New group to look for solutions to eyesore buildings in Crieff

A new group will look to solve the long-running problem of eyesore buildings in a Strathearn town.

The Strathearn Defective Buildings Discussion will meet for the first time on Thursday at Perth and Kinross Council’s headquarters and will run the rule over several buildings that are causing concern in Crieff, including the Drummond Arms and the former Strathearn Hotel.

The new group consists of local councillors, council officials and community groups who are working to promote the town’s cause.

Councillor Roz McCall, who is co-leading the group, said: “The eyesore buildings that are the Drummond Arms Hotel and the Strathearn Hotel are very concerning as they are now in danger.

“If you own a building, it should be your responsibility to maintain it. If you’re not prepared to look after it then you should be selling it to somebody who is.

“I want to see the situation with the Drummond Arms progressed as soon as possible.”

And Ailsa Campbell, chairwoman of Crieff Community Trust, who has been heavily involved in plans to transform the Drummond Arms Hotel, added: “It’s been a long process and we’re hoping to progress things in the next couple of months.

“An initial thought was to convert the hotel into a community centre. However, our consultants’ analysis showed there were better uses.

“The hotel is too much of a liability to purchase just now given its condition. However, to win the Right to Buy, we needed 10% approval in a survey on the site’s future, and we got over 25%.”