Anger at sorry state of former village hotel

Claims building has been neglected by developers in spite of planning condition

Developers have been accused of putting a landmark Kinross-shire building at risk.

Plans for a partial demolition of the 125-year-old Lomond Country Inn, at the heart of conservation village Kinnesswood, were approved two years ago.

The hotel was due to be restored and converted into a family home, as part of a wider housing plan by Glenrothes-based Lime Blue Design and Build.

Although annex buildings and an extension were bulldozed last year, the main hotel appears to have been left largely untouched, prompting fears for its future.

It follows a similar situation in nearby Kinross, where locals were angered when part of the old high school was left a shell while construction began on 91 new homes.

Kinross-shire Lib Dem councillor Willie Robertson said the Kinnesswood case represented a growing trend.

“We see developers gaining planning consent for a site containing an important building – perhaps listed or a key building in a conservation area – which their consent says must be kept,” he said.

“The developer then demolishes everything on the site leaving only the building which must be retained.

“This has happened at the old high school site in Kinross.

“Thankfully, Perth and Kinross Council have now taken action to try and force the developer there to start work on the Edwardian section and meet the conditions set out in their planning consent.

“Likewise in Kinnesswood and the Lomond hotel site. Local people rightly wanted the original hotel building retained and this was agreed as part of the planning consent.

“However, the other buildings were quickly demolished well over a year ago, leaving a very forlorn looking and abandoned hotel building standing.

“This not only creates an eyesore in the village, but also puts the building in danger.”

Mr Robertson claimed that in both cases developers initially didn’t want to retain the buildings, but were conditioned to do so as part of consent.

“A cynic might say that they don’t immediately start work to renovate the listed building in the hope that if it is left long enough it will become beyond restoration,” he said.

“I would like council planners to take a much firmer stance with developers. They should not be permitted to do what they have done in Kinross and Kinnesswood.

“No demolition should be allowed to take place without a firm and enforceable timetable to restore the listed building on the site.”

No one at Lime Blue Design and Build, which won consent for the development in October 2016, responded to requests for comment.

I would like council planners to take a much firmer stance with developers. They should not be permitted to do what they have done ... COUNCILLOR WILLIE ROBERTSON

A dangerous eyesore – The dilapidated former Lomond Country Inn in Main Street, Kinnesswood.