FIFE COUNCIL wants talks with the owners of the closed King Malcolm Hotel amid concerns that it is becoming an eyesore for people coming into Dunfermline.

Local councillor James Calder raised the issue at a full council meeting on Thursday in the hope that something can be done with the site.

“The closure of the King Malcolm Hotel was a big loss to Dunfermline, and we now have a big issue with the hotel being boarded up and becoming an eyesore," he said.

“With the local community working hard to improve the gateway to Dunfermline, this is really unfortunate as it is in the main entry to the town.

“It is also unpleasant for local residents. At the council, it was mentioned that the site is not being actively marketed but that council officers are working to try and liaise with the owners.

"It is important they continue to keep up this work to ensure the site does not become a derelict magnet for anti-social behaviour.”

Councillor Helen Law, convener of the City of Dunfermline area committee, said it was important that the council remained in dialogue with the site owners, Peel Hotels.

"The King Malcolm Hotel sits at the gateway of Dunfermline and a boarded-up building is not a great look," she said. "While we don't own the site, we think it is really important that officers stay in as close contact as possible with the owners to see the site redeveloped.

"We need to be on the case because it is not a great look to have that as our gateway."

Cllr Altany Craik said council officers had been looking to establish contact with hotel owners but could not find any evidence that the owners were actively marketing the site for sale.

Peel Hotels announced their decision to close the hotel permanently last year.

It said there had been “persistent problems in regard to the cost base” and the decision to write off the hotel, and a sister hotel in Nottingham, had led to a hit of £1.16 million in its accounts.

As well as 48 bedrooms, the King Malcolm had facilities for conferences, business seminars and function rooms for weddings and other celebrations.

Located at the entrance to Pitcorthie, it had long been a popular venue in Dunfermline for various social and workplace gatherings and parties.