Date finally set for demolition of eyesore Eastgate Hostel in Inverness
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WORK is finally set to start on tackling the fire-ravaged Eastgate Hostel in Inverness – almost SIX years after the blaze.
A start date of March 4 has been set to begin the demolition of the High Street building which has been shrouded in scaffolding to the frustration of nearby businesses and community leaders for years.
The announcement follows a long-running campaign by the Inverness Courier which has kept up the pressure in calling for action and ensuring the issue has remained in the headlines – and not forgotten.
A spokesman for the owners said following successful negotiations with a demolition contractor the work would begin to take down the frontage of the building and remove the fire-damaged interiors.
It is expected to take up to 12 weeks.
Work would start five years and 11 months after the blaze in April 2013.
Community and business leaders have welcomed the news.
Crown and City Centre Community Council chairwoman Pat Hayden welcomed the announcement but wondered why work had not started in mid January as previously expected.
“I am sorry to say I will only believe it when the workmen are on site, “ said Mrs Hayden who congratulated the Inverness Courier for keeping up the pressure since the building was damaged in April 2013.
Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael said: “This is a key city centre location which has for too long been blighted by scaffolding .
“The reinstatement of the High Street is a significant improvement and I welcome the commitment made by the owners to invest in this key site,”she said.
Central ward councillor Bet McAllister said it would especially help businesses in the High Street.
“I am also heartened to hear of the ongoing commitment to ensure that a replacement building is constructed at the earliest opportunity,” she said.
But chiropodist Jim Crawford whose business is nearby remained unconvinced. “There have been so many false dawns,” he said. “If it doesn’t start by March 4, the council should take it over.”
A spokesman for the building’s owners said specialist contractors will initially remove asbestos from the site before the scaffolding is removed.
The plan is that each stone for the front will be marked and set aside for reuse in the rebuild which has now been approved.
The spokesman said the current contract is for the demolition to facilitate the removal of the scaffolding, but the intention was to rebuild fairly soon afterwards.
