A temporary marquee has been bought for the rainiest town in the Highlands after plans for a permanent canopy was shelved.
Plans had been tabled for a huge canopy for Fort William square, to encourage people to hold events and activities there to attract visitors.
But the proposals were met with objections from local businesses, so the Fort William Town Team decided to rethink.
Members have now been given almost £900 from Foundation Scotland to buy a waterproof gazebo to use in Cameron Square.
It will be installed mainly when cruise ships visit the town and entertainment for passengers is laid on in order to keep people as dry as possible if it rains.
The 13ft by 26ft gazebo comes with weights and side walls with windows if required.
Town Team secretary Sue Keen said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been awarded £892.91 which enabled us to buy it. It is of a pop-up design so it should be fairly easy to put up and take down again.
“We’ll be using it primarily for days when passengers from cruise ships are in if the weather is wet, but who knows what other uses we may find for it.
“The canopy will also be available for charities or non-profit making groups to borrow to weatherproof events in the square.”
Mrs Keen explained that the gazebo is coming from Denmark and should arrive later this month.
“The next cruise ship due to visit Fort William is the Braemar on Thursday, May 25. We are hoping the gazebo will arrive on the 23rd, so we will be ready if it does rain. But we are all hoping we’ll be able to keep it in its box and the weather is nice and dry.”
The Town Team submitted a planning application for a permanent canopy in the square back in December but withdrew it after some nearby businesses claimed it would block visibility to their premises.
But there was a lot of support for the move, to the team decided to go back to the drawing board and rethink the proposal.
Mrs Keen said: “We are still going ahead with our plans and are in the process of obtaining designs and quotations. Once all these are in place, we will be asking the public what they think.
“We really want a permanent cover in the square as we want to encourage impromptu performances, but the good thing about the temporary marquee is that we can use it to provide additional protection in wet weather.
“It can be put up and taken down again by a couple of people, so it will come in very handy.”
