Contractor MacInnes Brothers (Bros) is progressing with work on three capital projects in the Outer Hebrides.

A £1.6 million development at Ardveenish harbour is nearing completion, while work is continuing on the £1 million redevelopment of Vatersay hall and a £900,000 project to build two business units in Castlebay.

Each project is being funded by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, with the scheme at Ardveenish harbour receiving £1.2m from the Comhairle's Capital Programme 2008-2013 and £283,000 from the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF).


In addition, Highlands and Islands Enterprise provided £125,000 towards the projects cost. The development is expected to be open in July.

The 'Vatersay Community Hub' project was awarded £100,000 by the CNES, various funding from CCF/HIE, and received a substantial sum from the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (SGRCGF) due to being a component project within the Comhairle's 'South Uist & Barra Regeneration Programme'.

The business unit project in Castlebay is funded by both the CNES and SGRCGF. Work is just getting underway, however completion is expected by spring 2017.

Cllr Alasdair Macleod, Chairman of the Comhairle's Sustainable Development Committee, said: "These three projects will deliver greater sustainability for the local business community and, the fisheries & marine-leisure sectors on Barra – as well as the community of Vatersay, who should be commended for proposing, leading and delivering their own ambitious project."

(LM)