Jimmy Savile’s Highland cottage ‘will only be demolished as last resort’

AS THE late Jimmy Savile’s Glencoe cottage continues to be vandalised, a Highland councillor insists that demolishing the property is a last resort.

• Vandals have painted the building with “abusive slogans”

• Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust had plans to turn cottage into a respite care centre for the disabled

• All plans have been postponed as the investigation is underway

• Locals are calling for the property to be demolished

Allt Na Reigh, the Glencoe property owned by Savile, was vandalised at the weekend as allegations surrounding the late presenter continue to be investigated by police. It is reported that vandals sprayed the property with orange paint, and wrote “abusive slogans” such as “Jimmy The Beast” on the building’s walls. As calls come from locals to demolish the property, which is reportedly still owned by the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust, a Highland councillor insists that demolition will be a final resort.

Andrew Baxter, a representative from Fort William and Ardnamurchan ward, said: “the general feeling amongst the community is that we would want to distance ourselves from Jimmy Savile and the fact that he lived here and perhaps perpetrated some of his vile crimes here, and move on.

“We don’t want to be reminded of what might have happened there and we don’t want visitors to Glencoe being reminded either

“But demolishing should be a final resort. One of the other options being suggested is that it could be turned into a mountain centre, as a base to get people - possibly those who are disabled or from disadvantaged backgrounds - out to the mountains.

”However, my feeling, and the feeling of others, is that it may not be appropriate to use it as overnight accommodation, considering what may have happened there.”

Prior to the investigation, plans were underway to transform the property in to a respite care centre for the disabled. All plans have been halted as the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust has been closed down as a result of the allegations.