Plans to upgrade Nethy Bridge hall will not be knocked off course
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Plans to redevelop Nethy Bridge Community Centre are progressing well despite the disappointment of missing out on a windfall from the Calor Rural Community Fund.
A number of refurbishment project have already been completed in recent years.
Now the focus has turned to page two which mainly concerns the facility's large hall.
Limited own funds have been supplemented by grant aid and volunteer labour.
A bid was made for £5,000 funding from Calor Rural Community Fund with a local appeal for votes for an Electrowind Short Mat Bowls Storage Machine.
But that has fallen short.
Nethy Bridge Community Centre chairman David Carrott said: "Our thanks go to all who voted for our project despite the vagaries of the online system. "Unfortunately, we fell short of achieving the required top 20 finish but did very well considering the size of the community."
Mr Carrott said achieving funding is never easy for voluntary organisations. However, the Community Centre has been awarded £2000 from Foundation Scotland – Forbes Fund and £500 from Badenoch and Strathspey Area Sports Council towards the cost of the ‘Electrowind’.
Mr Carrott said they were grateful for the support.
He said: "With co-operation between Nethy Bridge Indoor Bowling Club and the community centre management this project will be proceeding shortly.
"The objective for obtaining this storage machine is two-fold.
"It assists the bowlers to more readily move and store heavy bowling mats and it frees up space in the large hall for other users.
"Likewise, the replacement of the fixed stage with a demountable stage releases more space, achieving a total net gain of 15 per cent more floor space.
"This is required by current users Wild Highland Archers to have competition distances for indoor archery and the indoor bowling club for social events."
Mr Carrott said the flexibility will also increase the potential for lettings for weddings and other larger events.
The community centre has received a grant from The Lottery Fund – Awards for All of £7,350 for the purchase of the demountable stage.
The archery club and others have offered voluntary labour to remove the old stage which is a later addition to the original building.
It is planned that this work will be completed by the end of this month.
As part of phase two refurbishment new air-sourced heat pump heating, replacement double glazing and black-out blinds have been installed in the large hall.
The exterior woodwork of the premise has been redecorated.
Plans are in hand to improve the insulation and lighting plus other minor works and redecorate the main hall subject to available funds.
Mr Carrott commented: "The funding awards are vital to ensure that progress can be made with this project.
"But the essential element is the support received from the local community which by working together can achieve so much."
