TEN YEARS AGO
Thursday October 3, 2013
£4m hostel needs major fix after three years
A £4 million ‘five star’ school hostel in Lochaber, which opened just over three years ago, needs major repairs because it is failing to stand up to wind and rain.
Problems have come to light with the exterior of the three-storey, 21-bedroom Mallaig High School residential hostel following an internal project to improve the building’s fire safety and strengthen emergency staircases.
Masonry on the eye-catching building needs to be taken down and replaced on the affected walls and a number of windows also need to be replaced. It is understood that, while bedrooms remain in use, buckets are needed throughout the building to catch leaking water.
The cost of the refurbishment has not been revealed but we understand it could run to six-figures.
According to the Highland Council’s education, culture and sport service (ECS), “the costs have increased to a point where tendering is now required”.
A recent ECS update on the situation, seen by this newspaper, states: “There are contractors at Mallaig High School and the Housing and Property Service is trying to see if it will be possible for these contractors to carry out the work on the hostel to cut down time.
“None of the pupil rooms are closed although there are lots of buckets collecting water in the common room areas.” The memo adds: “When the building works take place, some pupils might need to move between rooms on a temporary basis whilst windows are being replaced.”
The hostel is “home” during term time for pupils from the islands of Canna, Eigg, Muck, Rum and the Knoydart Peninsula. It opened in March 2010, enabling the Highland Council to meet its long-standing ambition to provide accommodation for these pupils as one group.
The hostel was built by Les Taylor Construction and stands on an elevated site adjacent to the 135-pupil high school.
At the official opening, it was suggested the building would be ‘the envy of five-star hotels worldwide with the spectacular views afforded from the hostel’.
The land was donated to the council for a token £1 by theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh. The design includes provision for dining, quiet space, social areas and maximises the use of the site through its recesses and views from the bedrooms.
The island and Knoydart youngsters had previously stayed with families in Mallaig and Arisaig, but it had become harder to find accommodation, particularly during the peak tourist season.
This week local councillors expressed concern at the development.
Caol and Mallaig SNP councillor Bill Clark said: “It is a real blow that this has happened, especially considering the building has only been opened since 2010.
“However, I have spoken with our education officials and I am assured the work is in hand and the building will be fixed as soon as possible.”
Ward colleague Councillor Allan Henderson said: “It’s very disappointing to learn of these issues with the hostel building. For such a relatively new building to be showing signs of weakness already is of major concern and I hope the education service will address the matter as quickly as possible. It is in an exposed location and has to bear the full brunt of the west coast weather. It’s a £4 million building and architecturally complex. However, I’m surprised to hear of these problems.”
TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Saturday October 3, 1998
Replacement ferry for Corran
A replacement vessel for the Corran ferry was being considered by Highland Council.
The service is currently operated by two vessels, MV Rosehaugh and MV Maid of Glencoul, with generally only one in operation and the other in reserve.
Traffic growth in recent years has meant the carrying capacity is not always capable of matching supply and demand and, because the loading arrangements of the vessels are unique, chartering a relief vessel has been ruled out.
Director of the council’s roads and transport committee Phil Shimmin told councillors it may be possible to obtain a replacement vessel by an operating lease.
He warned, however, that before any decision on a lease could be made, the council would have to look at a projected number of vehicles to be carried. He said it would also be necessary to look at the fare structure as well as refit costs and crewing requirements.
SEVENTY FIVE YEARS AGO
Saturday October 2, 1948
Bonnie Prince Charlie – release of film
About 20 descendants of chieftains who fought in the ’45, among them Lochiel, have been invited to the premiere of the film ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ in Edinburgh and Glasgow on October 26.
Mr W A Nicholson, manager of the Scottish Tourist Board, intimated this at a press conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
David Niven, who plays the title part, is flying from America to attend both premieres, and Margaret Leighton, who plays Flora MacDonald, is also expected, along with Sir Alexander Korda, chief of London Films, which made the film, and Sir Arthur Jarratt, managing director of the British Lion Film Corporation.
Mr Nicholson said he hoped the film would stimulate interest in Scottish affairs among the 2,000,000 Scots overseas.
Many American shops are arranging shop window displays in connection with the film.
The Edinburgh premiere is in aid of the Scottish Tourist Board and the Glasgow premiere is in aid of journalists’ charities.
The date of the general release for Scotland will be January 3 and January 10 for London.
Isle of Skye
Kilmuir – At the Skye Horticultural Society Show held in Portree, two Kilmuir men were successful exhibitors.
Mr Donald MacKenzie, Camusmore, obtained 17 first prizes as well as several seconds and thirds. He was the winner of the Dumblair Silver Challenge Cup for having the most points at the show and was also awarded two medals and a diploma.
He was placed first in several classes in the professional gardeners’ section.
Mr John MacPherson, Linicro, submitted seven entries and was awarded five first prizes, a second and a third.
The pair are to be complimented on the high standard of their exhibits.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Saturday October 6, 1923
A Skye land case
Neil Stoddart junior and Neil M’Innes, both of Torrin, Skye, were tried at Portree Sheriff Court on Friday on a charge of having deforced, on a day in July last, a sheriff officer, who had been sent to Skye to arrest them and bring them before the Court of Session for sentence in respect of their having disregarded an interdict of the Court prohibiting them from cultivating parts of the farm of Kilbride in Skye. The trial, which lasted the whole day, resulted in the men being acquitted.
Isle of Muck
Prior to his departure for the south, the people of the island were kindly entertained to dinner on September 19 at his residence by Lieutenant M’Ewen, the island’s genial laird.
After dinner had been served, and everyone had expressed their pleasure at seeing the laird at the head of the table with Mrs M’Ewen, the laird’s mother, the company adjourned to the spacious drawing room where several indoor games were held, in which the house party took a prominent part.
On September 23, sports took place in a field adjoining the house when a variety of outdoor games were indulged in with much zest, especially by the youth of the island.
The day was fine and tea was served on a grassy slope near the sea.
At the close of the day’s proceedings, Mrs M’Ewen gracefully handed over prizes to various competitors.
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr and Mrs M’Ewen, Mrs Dewar and Miss Dewar for their generosity in providing such a splendid entertainment and ringing cheers were given for the laird.
CAPTIONS:
1998: Fort William teenager Joanne Walzak, aged 14, has braved the wilds of the Highlands to become a fully trained member of the Gore Tex Fabric High Altitude Crew. Joanne beat thousands of entrants to attend a course aimed at teenagers aged between 14 and 18 years old which is sponsored by Gore, manufacturers of the fabric.
The team was given full training by highly qualified instructors, covering navigation techniques and climbing skills, before being sent out to test their wits against the great outdoors.
Accompanied by their leaders, Joanne and the other members of the 12-strong team demonstrated their competence in mountaineering and survival skills, climbing to 4,286 feet on an overnight expedition.
At the end of their once-in-a-lifetime experience, team members said they had enjoyed themselves learning new skills and making new friends.
1948: Seventy-five-years-ago, the attitude towards women, their ability to buy high value consumer goods and their role in the home were so different.