Hotel change a sound move
Dear Editor I am uncertain whether GW Wilson is opposed to the principle of converting the Royal Hotel in Bridge of Allan to housing or simply to the number of units proposed, particularly in relation to traffic and parking issues (Letters December 16).
Sadly, the Royal is most unlikely to be able to reopen as a hotel. This is not a direct result of the current pandemic, which has merely accelerated trends that were in the economy already.
The Royal’s management made every effort to render it commercially viable as a large hotel, but the market no longer favours this kind of operation.
A hotel like this is vulnerable to competition from prestige city centre and country house hotels at the viability, week in, week out, is a major challenge.
The proposal, to my mind, puts housing exactly where it should be – in a town centre. We need to get houses, shops and other facilities back together again. This reduces the need to travel and helps to stimulate the businesses that remain.
It is also encouraging that the proposal does not involve demolition of the building, thus preserving much of the townscape. Nor does it leave us with a large empty building on Henderson Street, as a monument to past glories.
The number of units may be open to debate, but the principle of converting redundant hotel – and retail – premises to town-centre housing seems a sound one. David W Brown Stirling