Police throw up safety cordon after glass falls from crumbling Crieff hotel.

safety: Busy street used by schoolchildren is sealed off over crumbling glass

A section of Crieff town centre had to be cordoned off due to safety fears over the Drummond Arms Hotel.

Police Scotland threw up an exclusion zone around the decaying building after reports glass had showered the street.

It was thought upper floor windows had become loose and there were concerns more debris could fall into Hill Street.

That posed a significant danger to pedestrians and in particular to the many schoolchildren who use the street as many as three times a day. The cordon remained in place for some time.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Officers closed off Hill Street shortly after 8am after glass fell from a third floor window of the Drummond Arms Hotel.

“No one was injured and the building was made safe by Perth and Kinross Council and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.”

Crieff Community Trust is trying to secure the building and bring it back into use, with members working for months to secure the permission and money needed to transform it.

Various issues, such as negotiations with the owner, have delayed progress.

It is understood assessors have valued the building at around £30,000.

The trust’s Ailsa Campbell said: “There have been numerous delays and unfortunately, that has cost more time and more money.

“We hope we can come to an agreement over a purchase price.

“Once we have that we can go ahead with more detailed planning for the future of the hotel and work to secure additional funding.

“Hopefully, within a couple of years we can then see the building rejuvenated.

“We have already had talks with Perth and Kinross Council, housing associations and the Scottish Land Fund with a view to seeing the hotel converted into rented accommodation.”

Ms Campbell said the deterioration of the building was potentially very serious if it endangered the public.

“Schoolchildren regularly walk up Hill Street in the morning, at lunchtimes and in the afternoon,” she added.

“It is one of their main routes and it appears that it is now dangerous. That is not good.”

It is one of the children’s main routes and it appears it is now dangerous. That is not good