LEVERHULME COMMUNITY HUB LTD SIGN £1M CONTRACT FOR REFURBISHMENT WORKS
Leverhulme Community Hub Ltd have announced that a contract of works for the renovation of the former Leverburgh school building has been signed with local construction firm, Lewis Builders. Lasting 52 weeks, the contract will see a full refurbishment of the Lord Leverhulme-built facility, including the installation of energy efficient measures.
Once complete, Leverhulme Community Hub will consist of a café, launderette, charity shop, gym, historical society, along with offices for let and a community space for hire.
The signing of the contract is a momentous occasion for the Hub board of directors who have worked tirelessly for over 6 years to bring the project to this stage.
Funding from a variety of sources has made the renovation project possible. The Board wishes to express its thanks to: Architectural Heritage Fund, CARES, Crown Estates, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Garfield Weston, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Islands Green Recovery Fund (Inspiring Scotland), Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, Scottish Land fund, Western Isles Lottery and the Western Isles Development Trust.
Working alongside Lewis Builders and the LCH Board will be a construction design team comprising of Taighean Innse Gall, IMQS, Greenspace Live and Total Design.
FIRE ALARM LAWS AND INSURANCE
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant was concerned that home insurance would be invalidated if homeowners fail to comply with the new fire alarm laws which are now in place in Scotland. However, she has since received reassurance from the Association of British Insurers (API) that this is unlikely. In their email to the MSP, they say:
‘Our members are aware of the new regulations coming into force and are unlikely to invalidate a home insurance claim for existing customers who haven’t yet complied with the new law in Scotland. Anyone who is unclear on their policy terms and conditions should speak to their insurer.’
Major insurers such as, Aviva, AXA, Admiral Group and LV= have confirmed that they will not invalidate claims where their customers have not yet been able to install the new interlinked fire and smoke alarms. Following this response, the MSP has further enquired whether there will be a time that these new fire alarm laws will invalidate home insurance.
Rhoda Grant MSP said:
‘I’m glad that this is the current position of most home insurance companies and I wish to spread this reassuring message from API.
I will also continue the fight to see that help is extended to low-income households as it’s vitally important that we are all as safe as we can be within our homes.’
CONTRACT FOR LOCHMADDY PIER IMPROVEMENT WORKS AWARDED
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has awarded a £15.3m contract to civil engineering contractor George Leslie Ltd to carry out upgrade works at Lochmaddy Pier in North Uist.
Lochmaddy Pier is owned by the Comhairle and, working closely with Transport Scotland, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), CalMac Ferries Ltd and The Highland Council, the pier and associated infrastructure is to be upgraded to improve the ferry service provision at Lochmaddy and provide an enhanced experience for all ferry and harbour users both now and into the future.
The project forms a key part of the programme of infrastructure improvements on the Skye Triangle ferry routes with improvement works recently completed at Tarbert, Isle of Harris, and ongoing at Uig, Isle of Skye.
Constructions works are scheduled to start in March 2022 and completed in spring 2023. CalMac will continue to operate ferry services during the works.
Transport Scotland continues to work with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, The Highland Council and CMAL in the delivery of the ambitious plans for the facilities at the three ports of Tarbert, Lochmaddy and Uig through the Skye Triangle Infrastructure Improvement Programme.