Concern has been raised about a former tourist information building which has lain empty in its prominent Oban town centre location for four years.
The old church building on Argyll Square, which housed Visit Scotland’s Visitor Information Centre (Vic), was closed in 2011 after plaster started falling from the ceiling.
Now a local businessman has written to VisitScotland chairman Mike Cantley criticising the tourist body for leaving the building empty.
Darren Donaldson also questioned whether the new information centre on Oban’s North Pier is large enough for such a busy tourist town.
Mr Donaldson wrote: “As far as I am aware the church has still not been maintained or repaired and I would imagine it has been left to fall into a much worse state. Out of sight out of mind perhaps?
“As you are also aware, this building is situated on the main square in Oban and it is a very prominent building. Should you choose to sell or lease it, you will find it a serious challenge to find a buyer prepared to pay for the extensive damage.
“VisitScotland has a responsibility to repair this building as the owner.”
Mr Donaldson continued: “I am also concerned with the size of the current tourism office. Oban is one of Scotland’s busiest centres inviting around 170,000 visitors per year, yet it is so small visitors have to queue out the doors to get in. This number could be higher if you found a better home for our local office.”
Argyll and Bute MSP Mike Russell said Mr Donaldson was right to raise these “serious issues” with VisitScotland.
VisitScotland said it would reply directly to Mr Donaldson. Regional Director David Adams McGilp said: “Over the last four years, we have ensured that the church building has been maintained in a wind and water tight condition. Whilst a number of approaches have been received during this time from parties interested in taking occupancy of the premises, to date none of these approaches has come to fruition.
“We would welcome greater community involvement in potential future uses of the church building and we have therefore re-commenced the marketing of the property as other interested parties may have access to grant funding for a more extensive refurbishment of the church and potential community multi-use.
“With regard to the VIC on the North Pier, in order to be able to accommodate larger numbers of visitor and in response to visitor feedback, we are reconfiguring the internal layout.”