Bid to breathe new life into Badenoch village
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Hope is growing that the "mothballed" village of Dalwhinnie will see new beginnings in 2013.
The village suffered a major blow in the summer when the primary school – one of the smallest in Scotland – had to close its doors.
Dalwhinnie also has two closed hotels, an under-used village hall and a disused tourist centre which cannot be demolished at present because asbestos has been found in it.
The former tourist office was to have been knocked down once nesting birds had fledged in the autumn, but small amounts of the potentially hazardous material were discovered, and this has to be dealt with first.
However, Dalwinnie community councillors, along with Badenoch and Strathspey Highland councillors and their officials, have started to work together to reverse the trend of vacant sites and derelict buildings.
A number of suggestions have been made to use the school premises which will keep the building in use and safeguard its fabric.
The proposals include plans to work with the RSPB and Cairngorms National Park Authority to create a golden eagle watch, whilst three local businesses have also expressed an interest in using the premises.
A feasibility study has just got underway and an update is expected in the next few months.
Community council secretary Bill Carr told the "Strathy": "This new year will see nearly 100 people moving in, with Balfour Beatty, to begin the next section of the Beauly-Denny line, and that of course will be a , but the work is being based here and it’s a great starting point for 2013major boost for the locality.
Badenoch and Strathspey Highland councillor Gregor Rimell said: "We are all working to make sure that when the pylons are completed Dalwhinnie is restored to a pleasant place with tourist attractions and able to bring visitors off the A9."
As part of the efforts, the owners of derelict Inn at Loch Ericht, on the main road into the village from the south, are still being sought, and the net has been spread wide by Highland Council officials.
Building standards officials have not made contact yet with the registered owner, despite a protracted investigation.
A council environmental health officer told the "Strathy" that the building, which has stood empty for several years, was secure. However, there has been recent evidence of squatters.
