THE Caithness Broch Project, backed by The National as media partner, has moved a step closer to realising its dream of building a world heritage Iron Age broch and visitor centre after securing £12,000 of funding.
The team behind the plans have won £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Investing in Ideas, and £2,000 from Highland Council to carry out research and complete a business case for the construction of a replica broch.
The project is supported by North Highland Initiative and following receipt of three quotes, Inverness-based strategic community development consultancy Alan Jones Associates has been appointed to carry out this initial work.
The project’s chairman and co-founder Kenneth McElroy, 27, who currently helps to promote tourism in the North Highlands region as project manager for the North Coast 500, said: “We’re over the moon to acquire the funding. A solid business case for the broch project is vital if we are to ensure further funding is allocated to our initiative, so we always knew we would have to seek out professional help.
“We are delighted to be working alongside North Highland Initiative too – they have been successful in getting smaller projects off the ground, such as the North Coast 500 and Mey Selections, and so we are hopeful they can help to progress the broch project too.”
The money will be spent on appraising three sites the project team has in mind for their broch and finding the most sustainable, successful and sensible location. They will also conduct a public survey to get feedback on the potential sites and the overall project.
McElroy added: “Further to this, Alan will create a business plan which outlines the costs, funding options, projected income, as well as how the broch will create opportunities in and benefit the local area.
“Alan is a strategic consultant who has been involved in a number of successful community projects in Scotland, ranging from sports centres to war memorials, and it’s this wealth of experience which made him the ideal candidate for the job.”
The Big Lottery Fund Scotland said it was “delighted” to award the money to get the project started.
Maureen McGinn, chair of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland, said: “We know from experience that it can sometimes be challenging for groups to get projects off the starting blocks. Our Investing in Ideas funding is designed to offer vital early stage support to help groups test out new ideas.
“The Caithness Broch Project is an excellent example of this in operation and I am delighted that they have secured £10,000 to carry out essential exploratory work.
The funding will allow them to conduct options appraisals of three potential sites for the replica broch which they believe has the potential to become a valuable tourist attraction which creates employment and training opportunities in skills such as construction and dry-stane dyking.
SPECIAL OFFER
THE National is offering new and existing members of the Caithness Broch Project an exclusive discounted deal of 10 per cent off 12-month digital subscriptions as part of our commitment as media partner. What’s more, members who sign up for a year’s subscription will get a free 12-month Open Fairways golf card.
To claim your discounted subscription, call us on 0141 302 7733, making sure you quote the Caithness Broch Project. Becoming a member of the Caithness Broch Project couldn’t be easier. Just go to www.thebrochproject.co.uk.
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