Fire damages property once owned by Jimmy Savile
- Emergency services were called to extinguish a fire at an outbuilding of a cottage formerly owned by Jimmy Savile.
- The property had been subjected to vandalism and was set for demolition after failed redevelopment plans.
- Ongoing investigations by Police Scotland are aiming to determine the circumstances of the fire.
In Glen Coe, Scotland, a property once owned by notorious sex offender Jimmy Savile was badly damaged by a fire on Saturday evening. Emergency services responded to the blaze around 5:30 PM, extinguishing the fire that had broken out in an outbuilding adjacent to the main cottage. The cottage had been subject to numerous attacks since Savile's unmasking as a prolific paedophile following his death in 2011. At the time of the fire, the property had already been floating amidst plans for demolition after suffering from vandalism and unsuccessful redevelopment efforts. Savile purchased the cottage, known as Allt Na Reigh, in 1998. After his death, the property was auctioned in 2013 and received significant attention due to its controversial past. The new owner had been granted planning permission to demolish the cottage and replace it with a modern four-bedroom house. Additionally, the redevelopment aims to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Hamish MacInnes, a Scottish climber associated with mountain rescue innovations. The recent fire not only heightens the sense of loss surrounding the property but also raises questions about its future, especially given the history tied to its previous owner. The response from emergency services involved three appliances dispatched from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The A82 road had to be closed in both directions due to the fire response, reflecting how such incidents can impact local infrastructure. Ongoing inquiries by Police Scotland aim to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire, but the focus remains on the safety of the area and the management of properties with troubled histories. As the local community grapples with the fire and its implications, there is a growing discourse on how properties tied to individuals with dark legacies should be handled moving forward. This incident serves as a potent reminder of the intersection between personal histories and public safety, particularly in locations with a high degree of public interest.