Full Steam Ahead!
The Scottish Executive announced that Boat of Garten Community Hall’s application for funding from the European Regional Development Fund was successful. An award of £278,836 means that there is only £80,000 still to raise to achieve our target and with several outstanding applications awaiting decisions, members of the Community Hall can feel confident that the project can finally begin.
The project has inspired local residents to raise an astonishing £110,000 towards the project and this, together with a robust Business Plan, has impressed funders and local and national grant giving bodies.
The architect appointed is Mr Douglas Murray, B.Arch., R.I.B.A., R.I.A.S. of Strathpeffer who designed the Coigach Hall at Achiltibuie. He will lead a team of professionals including an Acoustics Engineer through the design stage to the management of the construction phase.
The Directors of the Hall Company have formed a Building and Planning sub-committee who, through a project co-ordinator, will liaise with the Architect and report back to the Board and Funding bodies at regular intervals. Meanwhile other small groups are being formed to consider more detailed planning issues such as kitchen equipment, showers and lockers, IT equipment and furniture. If you have any skills or advice to share, please feel welcome to come forward and help where you can.
Director Audrey Martin said “2006 will be a year to remember – Boat’s community has pulled together well and given their best endeavours to reach this stage. We are particularly grateful to all the volunteers who have given so much energy and time to this project so far – it’s nice to know that their efforts will be rewarded appropriately with a new building to be completed by early 2007”.