Public invited to view Charles Kennedy Building

Members of the public are invited to an open afternoon to view The Highland Council’s offices in the new Charles Kennedy Building at Achintore Road in Fort William on Wednesday 19 September from 1pm – 4pm.

Earlier in the day, the building will be formally opened by Highland Council’s Lochaber Area Chairman, Cllr Andrew Baxter with members of Charles Kennedy’s family in attendance and partner organisations who occupy the property. The building was renamed in tribute to the late Charles Kennedy MP who attended Lochaber High School and represented the Highlands from 1983 until 2015. 

Photo by Abrightside Photography. At the opening on 19 September 2018: l-r Scott Dingwall - Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Michael Hall – Robertson Northern Construction Limited; Claire Wynne - DWP JCP; Cllr Andrew Baxter, Highland Council Area Chair; Stuart Black – Director of Development and Infrastructure, Highland Council; Janey McKinnon, DWP JCP; Mark Douglas – Robertson Construction Northern Limited; Steve Barron Chief Executive, Highland Council

Cllr Baxter said: “It will be an honour and a privilege to formally declare both the Charles Kennedy Building and Alexander Ross House open. Together these redeveloped buildings now deliver a fantastic new site providing modern and accessible facilities serving the local Fort William and wider Lochaber community.”

The day’s events will mark the completion of Highland Council’s two year renovation and construction programme by the construction company Robertson.

Frank Reid, managing director, Robertson Northern said: 

“Working closely with The Highland Council on the construction of their new office has been a positive and collaborative effort that has resulted in a high quality refurbishment.” 

The project saw a former secondary school - which had lain empty for twenty five years - take on a new role serving the community and delivering public services for the Lochaber Area. For the renovation of the large B-listed building, the Council received a grant of £240,178 from Historic Environment Scotland. The B-listed section of the building now accommodates Highland Council offices, Service Point, Registration Service, Council Chambers and meeting rooms. 

In the adjoining modern extension the Department of Work and Pensions and Job Centre Plus are located on the ground floor with further Council offices on the upper floor. 

The Northern Scotland Service Leader, Alan Kane commented:

“Working alongside our local authority colleagues, this one stop shop allows claimants to access a wide range of services, while providing value for money for taxpayers. Jobcentre Plus co-located all our staff and services within the Charles Kennedy Building from December last year and I’m delighted to be working in partnership with Highland Council to deliver an enhanced and improved customer service in these modern premises.”

The adjacent former Fort William Primary School (now named Alexander Ross House) has been redeveloped to provide a Council record store, Lochaber Archive Centre where High Life Highland are located as well as providing office spaces for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the environmental charity Changeworks and Local Energy Scotland.

Alison Mason, Highland Archivist with High Life Highland said:

“The new Lochaber Archive Centre in Alexander Ross House holds a diverse display of archives and visitors will have a chance to view a display and go on a behind-the-scenes view of the strong room where collections are housed.  There will also be an opportunity to meet the newly-appointed staff who will be on hand to discuss engagement and collection possibilities and planning.

She added: “While regular users of the Archive will receive an invite to the open afternoon on Wednesday 19 September between 1:30pm and 3:30pm – all are welcome to come along. Lochaber Archive Centre will then reopen to the public from 20 September, and will be open to the public on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays going forward.”

Scott Dingwall, HIE’s head of regional development, said: 
 
“This is a great new facility that benefits, not just the organisations based here, but the members of the public looking to access the services we provide. There are also wider benefits of having these impressive listed buildings brought back into productive use, and enhancing the appearance of the entrance to the town.”

Rab Lees, CARES (Community and Renewable Energy Scheme) Project Support Manager, Local Energy Scotland commented: 

“We’re delighted to be based in a great location, with such a great sea view, where we can easily access our community clients and they can access us. We’re also working next door to partner organisations such as Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Highland Council in a newly refurbished office space. 

He added: “I’m now back in the building which used to be my old primary school!”