A renowned Highland musician Bruce MacGregor challenges local politicians to find a replacement to the Ironworks saying if Highland Council and local MPs and MSPs are 'serious about Inverness being a creative hub' then they have to help find a new venue
A RENOWNED north musician has laid down the gauntlet over the Ironworks saying if Highland Council and local MPs and MSPs are “serious about Inverness being a creative hub” then they have to get serious about replacing the venue.
Bruce MacGregor said the loss of the venue would damage the north music scene after councillors gave the green light to a £30 million 155-bedroom hotel plan on the site.
The public were dismayed by the decision despite councillors being stuck between a rock and a hard place because if they did not agree to the hotel then a student halls of residence could have been built on the same site.
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Mr MacGregor said: “We need a kind of King Tut’s-style venue [in Glasgow] in Inverness. It is tricky to find the right place, most of the city centre is owned by God knows who and that is one of the issues.”
Asked if the local authority should set up a working group to try and find a replacement venue, he said: “I think that is a great idea.
“It comes down to whether we have a council that truly believes in making
Inverness a cultural capital of the Highlands then they have got to identify land or spaces that we can put stuff into.”
Inverness city leader, Councillor Ian Brown, has said he is “very supportive” of exploring the possibility that the local authority could be involved but would need to talk to officials first.
“Obviously for anyone who loves music and loves live music it is a huge loss but it is not the council’s fault – it is not like we evicted anyone, the planning permission was already there [for student flats] – but it is a huge loss,” he said.
“So really a new venue, if we could find a new venue for them, would be fantastic. I would certainly need to talk to council officers first and obviously we would be looking for external funding to do this.
“I would be very supportive of taking this forward. We have a meeting of the city committee on September 14 and the city strategy is a part of that and this – having a music venue – is all part of the city strategy.”
Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing suggested there are a host of potential backers for a new venue that could make it a financially viable prospect: “Ultimately it is a commercial decision for an investor to make any business work.
“However, it is obviously a good idea that local leading business figures such as Bruce work with the council to help to identify a suitable site and property and work with potential investors to that end.
“I would hope HIE [Highlands and Islands Enterprise] can play a part working in collaboration with the local business community and Inverness Chamber of Commerce will also have valuable input.”
City MP Drew Hendry said: “The Ironworks is part of the fabric of Inverness cultural history, and I hope, with a new home, will continue to be part of its future.
“I share the disappointment felt by many folk across the Highlands at the news that we will lose its presence from Academy Street and will do what I can to help those involved with the project to find a new home – hopefully in the heart of Inverness – where it belongs.”
