Just get on with it, Eastgate Hostel owners told

Pat Hayden, chairwoman of Crown and City Centre Community Council, said the owners should “start now” and stop making excuses after they said they were “focusing 100 per cent on moving forward” with plans to finally tackle the eyesore.

Owners Imtaiz Ali and a Mr Cheng recently said they hoped a contract for demolition could be in place before the end of November, but work may not start until after the festive period to avoid inconveniencing neighbouring traders.

In answer to further questions posed to them by the Courier, through agent Gary Johnston of GH Johnston Building Consultants, they also revealed more about their plans for the shop spaces and two holiday apartments set to be created when the building is restored.

“Mr Cheng intends to reinstate his quality food takeaway restaurant,” Mr Johnston said.

“The other shop unit will be available for rent as a class one shop, restaurant, hot food takeaway or other business considered suitable in the town centre. This may require a further planning application to Highland Council.

“The holiday apartments are aimed at visitors to Inverness and the Highlands and are commensurate with similar holiday lets in the High Street.

“As the apartments will be new and with a generous floor area, they will be at the higher end of the quality lets.”

They owners said they would take “soundings” from Inverness Business Improvement District in terms of when would be the best time to start demolition work and refused to discuss why it had taken more than 2000 days to get anything done.

Mr Johnston said: “The owners will not make any comment on the past as they are now focusing 100 per cent on moving forward to get the scaffolding off the street and starting on the rebuild.”

But Mrs Hayden said she wanted to see action as soon as possible and there had been enough talk in the city about moving things forward.

“Start now and don’t use Christmas as an excuse. Get [the scaffolding] down. Today’s a lovely day to start,” she said.

“We’ve had enough excuses – I’m fed up of excuses.”

She said that when the fire happened her grand-daughter had been an infant, adding: “That grand-daughter is about to be seven. That puts it in perspective – it’s been far too long.

“Action is what is needed. Never mind consulting everybody – everyone in that area wants rid of the scaffolding.

“Don’t wait until after Christmas because then the weather will be bad and then there’ll be another excuse.”