Ex-Carrbridge hotel becomes a dangerous playground for children

A well-known Strathspey hotel which was once owned by a founding father of Scottish skiing is becoming a dangerous playground for local children, it is being claimed.

The Struan House Hotel in Carrbridge closed down in 2005, and has since become derelict, creating an eyesore in its prominent position on Main Street opposite the popular Landmark Forest Adventure Park.

Now there are increasing concerns that youngsters who have been playing in the empty building could be injured unless it is made safe.

The hotel was bought around the end of 2007 by Aberdeen-based property development firm Scoin Investment Partners Ltd, who had planned to convert it into five homes.

They gained planning permission the following August, but the economic downturn put paid to the plan.

The hotel was put up for sale in November 2010 with an asking price of offers over £405,000, but so far there have been no takers.

Ms Helen Davidson, who lives next door to the hotel, said: "Local children have been in and out of the building despite there being floors in there which are not safe.

"They are mainly aged nine to 15 years old, and I have reported this to the police, not because of any problems I have but out of fear for their safety.

"I really think it is the owner’s duty to make this building safe. Windows keep getting broken – the latest just last month – and there is shattered glass everywhere on the site.

"It’s a real shame, especially given the building’s history and the role that Karl and Eileen Fuchs played in founding skiing in Scotland."

The Struan House Hotel was owned in its earlier days by Austrian ski pioneer Karl Fuchs and his wife, Eileen, who created one of Scotland’s very first ski schools there after buying the hotel in 1954.

Mr Fuchs was a member of the 1948 Austrian Olympic team and had very limited schooling, while his wife was an honours graduate of Cambridge University who never progressed beyond the level of competent intermediate as a skier.

Ms Davidson’s own parents, Graham and Heather, also ran the hotel for a decade until 30 years ago.

She said: "Everyone with memories of this special place would like to see something done to improve it.

"In the meantime we, as neighbours, are trying the best we can to tidy up the garden and kill the weeds, which would be up to the windows otherwise."

The rear of the hotel has also become a dumping ground for fly-tippers, with rubbish including old TV units, whirlygigs, grass and tree cuttings, building rubble, concrete slabs and scrap metal.

Mr Andrew Kirk, vice-chairman of Carrbridge said: "We are very concerned about the continuing deterioration of the building and the metal hoarding, which is both dangerous and unsightly.

"Goodness knows what impression this gives to visitors to the village. Unfortunately there seems to be no sign of anything positive happening to the building.

"We have spoken to selling agents D.M. Hall, who said they would contact the owners, but nothing has happened in the month since.

"It is so sad to see a buuilding that was previously well looked after look so derelict."

Badenoch and Strathspey Highland councillor Stuart Black (Lib Dem) has told the watchdog group that he will take up the safety concerns with Highland Council’s building control and health and safety departments

Scoin Investment Partners Ltd could not be contacted at the address given on-line.

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