Highland Council’s ‘broken promises’ have hit attendance of community groups hard at Charleston Community Complex in Inverness, say organisers
Frustrated local figures have sounded the alarm over the impact that construction of a new school nursery is having on elderly and disabled access to vital community groups.
Work is under way on the first phase of what will eventually be a major rebuild of Charleston Academy and the Charleston Community Complex, with construction of Kinmylies Primary School Nursery currently taking place at the front of the site.
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However, disruption posed by this construction work is raising concerns among figures on the community complex’s management committee, who have warned that it is causing difficulties accessing other buildings and is having a negative impact on local groups who require disabled access or have elderly members.
And they have been left feeling that “community and volunteers don’t seem to matter” after promises about access were later contradicted, and subsequent requests for a meeting to discuss their concerns went unheeded by council officials and construction contractors.
Tom Wall, the vice chairman/treasurer of the Charleston Community Complex Management Committee, said the problems had led to a crash in the numbers of people attending some group events - and that this was proving “very detrimental” to the wellbeing of those unable to attend as it was further limiting their already limited social contact.
He stressed that the committee had no objections to the building of the new nursery or its location, but that earlier advice that certain access would be maintained during the works had since been contradicted.
“We were advised that we would still have access to the building for user groups who require disabled access and elderly groups,” he said. “On August 27 we were then advised that from August 28 we would have no access to the building but would have six disabled bays in Charleston Academy car park.
“The school car park now consists of 10 bays and three disabled bays.
“To get from there to the Community Complex wheelchair users have to be pushed up a hill round passed the school kitchen and down a path to the complex. This has caused a few of our groups to lose a good number of their participants, especially elderly ones where one group who had 16-20 every week has now reduced to six.
“As some of them only get out once a week to socialise and take part in activities this is very detrimental to their mental health and well-being. I, myself require access to the building due to my disabilities and I do find it difficult to walk longer distances for the members of the groups they are finding it much more difficult.
“There is a temporary car park on the school blaise pitch this is taken up by teaching staff during the day and has no lighting for evening groups and it is very dark down there. The lighting was supposed to be installed and is very much needed.”
He continued: “We did invite [construction contractors] Morrisons and council officials to attend a meeting to discuss out concerns unfortunately they didn’t turn up and they don’t think anything can be gained from meeting at this time. This situation has worsened for groups concerned over the last four weeks. We do feel that they don’t seem to care about community groups and volunteers here.
“As the Community Complex is to be incorporated into the new Charleston Academy when building starts we would also like to know for definite if the community will still have rooms as they do now to access during the day as we do now for toddler groups, senior citizens etc. We have been advised that it will be like for like but are unsure about it. We feel that community and volunteers don't seem to matter.”
Highland Council was approached for comment but had failed to respond by the time of publication.