Inverness Town House to get much-needed facelift
CITY councillors have unanimously supported a major restoration of the deteriorating Town House which could cost up to £4 million.
The exterior of the landmark building needs large-scale repairs to bring it up to standard and tackle crumbling masonry, in a bid to protect the public from falling stonework.
The 131-year-old building is owned by the Inverness Common Good Fund. Highland Council is the tenant with its staff permanently based there.
The city of Inverness area committee this week backed preparatory work for undertaking fabric repairs to the Town House and a project design team will be established.
Repairs are needed to the stonework, roof and windows.
More detailed costs will be brought to a future committee meeting and grant aid will be sought but councillors were told Historic Scotland would not offer financial assistance at such an early stage.
City provost Alex Graham backed the move and said the council had to grab the opportunity to preserve the building, which also hosts regular council meetings, civic receptions and hospitality events.
Inverness Central councillor Donnie Kerr claimed there had been a lack of exterior maintenance in the last few years and said it was an awful lot of money needed for repairs which would come out of the common good fund, but backed the works.
The Town House was opened in 1882 by Queen Victoria’s second son, Alfred, and was constructed in a Flemish-Baronial style.
Councillors also backed a feasibility study to assess future annual maintenance costs.