JIMMY Savile’s highland home is to be sold at auction with the proceeds understood to be used as compensation for his alleged victims.
‘Alltna Reigh’ in Glencoe has stood empty since the Jim’ll Fix It Star died in 2011 and was put up for sale in summer 2012.
But it was taken off the market in October last year after it failed to sell – prompting a wave of graffiti-attacks.
Lawyer, Alan Collins, of Manchester’s Pannone who represents more than 40 victims, confirmed that property was up for auction and hoped money raised would be used to compensate the victims.
He said: “I hope it will happen but whether it will or not I don’t know, that remains to be seen.”
Lochaber councillor, Andrew Baxter added: “I’m pleased the estate are finally doing something with it rather than allowing it to remain empty and deteriorate the way it has.”
Savile’s £4.3million estate has been frozen by the NatWest banking group but there is nothing to stop the sale of the house.
However any profits would be seized pending the outcome of the compensation cases.
Initially plans were led by Rodger Bodley, of the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust, to convert the cottage into a respite centre for the disabled but these plans were later scrapped.
The cottage – bought by Savile in 1998 – also belonged to Hamish McInnes, a well-loved mountaineer who developed the modern ice axe used by modern rescue teams.
Cameron McNeish, a leading wilderness walker has countered calls for its demolition for this reason.
He said: “It would be a great shame if it was demolished just because Jimmy Savile lived there, especially as the police have said they have no reports of any cases of abuse taking place there.’
Complaints against the shamed broadcaster have been recorded by 28 police forces across the country with 5 offences registered in Scotland.
