Highland Council Greenlights Urgent Repairs for Former East Church

Inverness: The Highland Council has given the thumbs up for some much-needed repairs to the old East Church on Academy Street. This building, which is over 200 years old, was picked up by the Gaelic charity Culturlann Inbhir Nis last year after the Church of Scotland decided to sell it off to save some cash.

Now, this community-driven charity is on a mission to transform the church into a vibrant Gaelic language and cultural hub for everyone to enjoy. They’ve been busy securing funds from various sources to kickstart these urgent repairs and improvements.

Back in July, they submitted a request to the council to make some changes to the roof for better drainage and insulation. They’re also looking to add roof lights and update the ground floor to include new restrooms.

A spokesperson from Culturlann Inbhir Nis mentioned that the roof and stonework are in pretty rough shape and need fixing up to keep the building safe for years to come. They pointed out that the gutters at the back can’t handle the rainwater properly, which is a big issue.

The planned work will focus on making the roof and walls wind and watertight. Plus, they’ll be adding insulation to boost energy efficiency, which is a step towards going green. They’re also making sure that the roof is accessible for maintenance and future repairs. Sounds like a solid plan to preserve this historic gem!