Call for action to tackle Perthshire tourist town’s rat infestation.

Council urged to take action over former Bakers’ Oven

A community council has called for action to be taken against an abandoned building in Pitlochry fearing it is attracting rats and other vermin to the tourist town.

The former Bakers’ Oven property on the town’s Atholl Road has been derelict for around a decade and concerned residents are worried that it has led to an increase in the number of rodents being seen in the area.

Jim Laurenson, Pitlochry and Moulin Community Council chairman, is urging residents to make their complaints heard by Perth and Kinross Council.

Mr Laurenson said: “It’s a sad state of affairs that we have a tourist town like this and we have rats running about.

“Whether they’re coming from there (the Bakers’ Oven) or from the burn we don’t know but it’s a property that’s been vacant for a long period of time.

“The building is absolutely done. It’s a disgrace.

“It’s a difficult one but the place just needs to be torn down.”

Local independent councillor Xander McDade has called on the council to take action on the site for the last two years – though he has been assured that the building has come under new ownership and they plan to make improvements.

Perth and Kinross Council said the property was last inspected by Building Standards in 2018 after concerns were raised about loose signage.

A council spokesperson said: “The assessment at that point determined that the building itself was generally sound and presented no significant Building Standards concerns.

“Alongside this, staff from our Vacant Property Development initiative are in regular contact with the property owner, who is working on a proposal for the site.”

The council also stated that it had visited the location twice in the last year and surveys had been carried out by their contracted pest control company.

The spokesperson said: “While we undertook to remind neighbouring residents and businesses regarding the use of appropriate pest control measures and disposal of food waste, the area was found to be clean and not affected by rubbish which would attract vermin.”

The building is absolutely done. It’s a disgrace.

JIM LAURENSON