City centre eyesore gets demolition approval
THE owners of a fire-ravaged building blighting Inverness city centre will meet Highland Council representatives this week to set out a timetable of work after the go-ahead was given for its demolition.
Hopes are growing of a breakthrough in the impasse over the former Eastgate Hostel which has been an eyesore since going up in flames in April 2013 – some 1984 days ago – although the council has acknowledged a compulsory purchase order could be considered if an agreement is not reached.
Public frustration has been growing over the lack of visible action at the site.
A planning application was lodged with the council earlier this year to remove scaffolding and demolish the remaining structure ahead of reconstruction. But hopes that work would start in June floundered when a council officer and Historic Environment Scotland voiced disquiet over proposals for a rebuild that would have been lower than the original building.
Although talks are still ongoing regarding the rebuild, planning officers using delegated powers have now given permission for the demolition on the condition the stones are numbered and stored for the rebuild.
Central ward councillor Bet McAllister who will attend a meeting with other councillors, officials and the owners tomorrow is confident of a solution and hopes the project will be completed by this time next year.
"I would like to see work start before the end of this year and then once the better weather comes in March or April to have it rebuilt next year unless they hit any other snags," she said. "That would be my dream."
She also insisted that the building should be reinstated to the same height.
"We will stick to our guns on that," she said. "It has to be done to what we want."
Cllr McAllister said a compulsory purchase order could be an option if a resolution was not forthcoming.
"Hopefully, it will not come to that," she said. "I am confident the owners will play ball and that everything we have asked them to do will be done."
A council spokeswoman confirmed discussions were continuing regarding a rebuild and expected details of the project’s programme to be released next week.
Asked whether the council was considering a compulsory purchase order if the talks and proposals failed, she replied: "All options remain under consideration which will enable the High Street being restored to full use."
Pat Hayden, chairwoman of Crown and City Centre Community Council, said work should start as soon as possible and felt a more contemporary design for the rebuild should be considered if it would speed up progress.
"Time is being wasted," she said. "If it is too difficult to rebuild as it was, let’s forget it. Why not make it one storey lower? Anything to make it easier."
Chiropodist Jim Crawford, whose practice is in Stephen’s Brae, has been a constant critic of the lack of action at the site and said the option of a compulsory purchase order had always been available to the council.
"This has now been going on for more than five years," he said. "It is ridiculous. It has gone on for far too long."
