Plans to demolish a popular Lochaber music and sports venue are being discussed by council officers and members of Highlife Highland .
The largest events facility in the region, the Nevis Centre in Fort William, was due to come under the management of leisure company Highlife Highland until an options appraisal for board members said the building was not fit for purpose.
The news comes only weeks after plans to demolish the Ironworks, a concert venue in Inverness, to make way for a hotel chain were revealed.
The Nevis Centre was completed in 1990 and is currently in the management of Linnhe Leisure, a voluntary organisation.
It is understood that proposals being discussed include the centre being demolished and another built in the car park adjacent to the building.
There are escalating costs of heating and lighting the “poorly insulated” building – alongside problems with ensuring the centre is wind and water tight.
Councillor Ben Thomson, who is Highland Council’s representative to the board of Linnhe Leisure, said: “The Nevis Centre is the Eden Court of the West Coast and has been serving the area well for the past 30 years.
“But moving forward we need a building fit for the 21st century entertainment. The building was built by people who built supermarkets and you can see that.
“Supermarkets have a shelf life of 30 years. It is now time to think about the future and what we would like.
“The voluntary board have done an incredible job of turning around the management of the Nevis Centre and instead of spending their time dealing with and spending money on problems with the building it is time to think much more long term. ”
A meeting of Highland Council’s care and learning committee held yesterday confirmed work was still underway to look at the transfer.
Highlife Highland board member, Councillor Duncan MacPherson said: “This was a building that was built as the equivalent of a town hall – and it was to be a flagship building in the area.
“But it turns out we have been sold a pig in a poke, and this building would be better being demolished and a new one built in the car park.”
A spokesman for High Life Highland said: “I can confirm that an approach from the voluntary board of Linnhe Leisure Ltd responsible for the management and operation of the Nevis Centre with a view to transferring the day-to-day operational management, not ownership, of the facility was received.
“Prior to any transfer process a routine survey of assets is carried out, on this occasion works were identified that would require to be completed before any transfer could take place.”
A spokeswoman for Highland Council said: ” We have been working with the Nevis Centre board on various repairs to the building.”
