War memorials’ restoration welcomed

Progress on the restoration of war memorials in the Highlands was welcomed this week by Members of The Highland Council’s Community Services Committee.

Forty five war memorial restoration projects are currently under progress and nine have been completed at: Creich, Clyne (Brora), Plockton, Lochalsh, Balmacara, Kyleakin, John Cameron Memorial (near Fort William), Beauly, and Kinlochleven.

A War Memorials Improvement Programme was prepared in 2013 to aid the Council’s 180 War Memorials which have an estimated £310,000 cost to repair and refurbish.

£200,000 has been committed from the Council’s capital discretionary funds (£50k per year) from 2014/15 to 2017/18 to refurbish the council’s war memorials and to enable the Council to bid for the Scottish Government’s Centenary Memorial Restoration Fund.

The Council has been working closely with community councils, the Royal British legion and War Memorials Trust; and local Community Service staff. Where suitable Area Council staff are also working with the Criminal Justice staff and community payback to keep costs low and get value for money.

In September, the Council will help the War Memorials Trust to promote a series of 3 workshops that they are running in October aimed at community councils and local groups to help increase the uptake of funding applications for war memorial restoration projects.

Councillor Allan Henderson, Chair of the Council's Community Services Committee said: “There is still funding available for war memorial restorations and it is vital the local people identify where the priorities are and how we can help make improvements. I would urge anyone who is interested to keep contact their local councillor or community council to find out how they can get involved.”