A local resident has described a sustained period of disturbance after alarms repeatedly sounded at the closed Menstrie House care home, saying the noise made life unbearable for around a month.
Persistent alarms left neighbour frustrated
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters he endured continual activations of both the burglar and fire alarms at the property on Main Street West. He said the devices were sounding multiple times each day and he spent hours trying to reach someone who would take action.
“So you've got two freaking alarms at different tones… I was phoning the council up to 10 times a day to say the alarm's on,” the resident said.
He said callers to the council were met with inconsistent information and no clear ownership of the problem. After approaching his MSP, he reports the alarms stopped shortly afterwards.
Council investigation and remedial work
A Clackmannanshire Council spokesperson confirmed it has been investigating several separate activations at Menstrie House and that its alarm contractor attended the site earlier this month.
- The contractor identified faulty cabling which may have been causing the repeated activations.
- Further investigation and remedial works were carried out.
- According to the contractor’s log, there have been no alarm activations since their visit on 10 July.
The council said it will continue to monitor the situation and take further action if necessary.
Background to the closure
Menstrie House closed last year after the Integrated Joint Board for the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership approved a revised form of care provision. The change was intended to reduce the need for residential placements by supporting people to remain in their own homes.
The building is no longer operating as a care facility, a factor that appeared to complicate clarity over who was responsible for maintaining alarms and other equipment.
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Menstrie House, Main Street West, Menstrie |
| Timescale | Resident reported repeated activations from early June; contractor visit on 10 July |
| Council response | Contractor attendance, fault identified, remedial works carried out, monitoring ongoing |
For neighbours, the episode underlines how closures of public or community buildings can create practical problems if responsibility for maintenance and safety systems is not clearly transferred. The resident criticised the lack of a single point of contact and inconsistent responses from those he called, saying the experience amounted to “a month of hell”.
The council has not disclosed whether the property has an owner or managing agent responsible for the alarm system following the closure. Residents concerned about similar issues are advised to contact Clackmannanshire Council’s customer services or their local elected representatives if matters persist.
