Work has started to demolish a former theatre and shop complex to make way for a long-awaited cinema in Lochaber.
The town centre in Fort William is buzzing with construction workers as a plan to raze the former Cameron Centre in Cameron Square to the ground gets underway.
CAyrshire-based 3b construction has taken over part of the Viewforth car park for its office space and yard during the demolition and construction phase.
Plans for the two-screen cinema and café bar are still in the hands of Highland Council. They had asked for more detail on the materials for the front of the building.
Cinema developer and businessman Angus MacDonald, said: “We hope to be building by April.
“Planners have now been given more details about the materials we want to use at the front of the build.”
He continued: “Preparation for demolition work started last week with our contractor 3b from Ayrshire.
“Last weekend we had all hands on deck helping us clear out the old cinema – two auditoriums worth of old dusty seats and many long forgotten sweet wrappers.
“Great to see the folk of Fort William getting stuck in there lending a hand.”
In October more than 450 people turned out to see the plans for the cinema.
Mr MacDonald said: “The feedback about having the cinema has been universally popular, all but one person was keen on replacing the building.
“We were very keen to hear opinions on the red roof on the first pitch, and I can report that people were hugely in favour mainly because they felt it would be traditional yet different, as well as being warm and attractive.”
Project manager Stuart Little said: “This will be a slow and safe demolition. All the machinery is due on site this Wednesday and over the next few weeks the building will be removed from the site.”
A spokeswoman for Highland Council said: “Our planning service advises that the demolition work does not require planning permission.
“In terms of the replacement building, the planning application is still under consideration, with the agent having submitted further information last week.
“We are hopeful of concluding the assessment of the application soon.”