Council Delegation Visits Skye

Convener Sandy Park, Vice-Convener Jean Urquhart and Chief Executive Alistair Dodds of The Highland Council visited Skye this week to meet local councillors, community leaders and partners and visit some key projects taking shape on the island.

The visit began at the Gaelic College, Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Sleat, where Director Professor Norman Gillies gave the party a tour of the new centre for creative and cultural industries, called Fas.  The Council contributed £1.2 million towards the cost of the project, which was opened by First Minister Alex Salmond.

Outside the entrance to the Gaelic College, the delegation were updated on the sixth and final phase of the upgrading of the Broadford – Armadale road which is due for completion in October.

Members attended a meeting of the Eilean a' Cheò Ward Forum in Portree and visited the £28 million Portree High School, which will open to pupils at the start of the new session.  The community facilities, i.e. the leisure pool and library, will open on 1 July.

An inspection was made of the An Tuirean arts centre, which is now closed to identify possible future uses in the short and long term.

Visits to the leadership centre – Columba 1400 at Staffin – Uig Pier and the Home Farm affordable housing development at Portree were also included on the tour.

-Ends-