Plans unveiled for Fort William town centre facelift

Plans to improve the amenity of Cameron Square in the heart of Fort William’s High Street and create an events area there will be unveiled at a public meeting next week.

The public are invited by The Highland Council to view and comment on the proposals at a meeting taking place at 6pm on Thursday 28 June in the Council Chambers, Lochaber House, High Street, Fort William.  At this stage, no funding has been identified for the actual works, but this is a first step towards identifying where such monies might come from.

Capita Symonds has been appointed by the Council to look at regenerating Cameron Square as a third and final phase of the High Street works.  Highlands and islands Enterprise has contributed 50% of the funding for this study.  Phases one and two saw the Underpass at the East End refurbished and Gordon Square at the West End become the new end of the West Highland Way, with artwork and tiered grassed areas created to give a more relaxed feel to the space.

It is proposed that Cameron Square could also be developed to provide a more relaxed seating and events area with the possibility of a covered section to allow all-weather performances.

At a ward forum held in Fort William earlier this year, it was agreed that the town needed to increase footfall to maintain a vibrant High Street economy and that this could be helped by promoting more events in the town centre.

Councillor Brian Murphy, Chair of Fort William Steering Group said: “This is an exciting development which would help to re-energise the Town Centre by bringing more events into the High Street. The Outdoor Capital of the UK is doing excellent work by promoting Lochaber as the home for events and this offers an opportunity to provide a base for small events and performances in the heart of Fort William.”

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