The main hall at Inverness Town House is set for a step back in time with new proposals to restore to its Victorian grandeur.
Plans have been unveiled for a new decorative scheme in the public hall at the historic building.
The new scheme will be based on analysis of historic design in the building – and will replace the current decor – described as “institutional and inappropriate”.
The exterior of the A-listed Town House is currently in the middle of a long-running £4.2million restoration project, meaning that some of the interior decorations are currently in storage.
The project is subject to gaining planning permission – and funding will have to be signed off at the first meeting of the Inverness area committee after the upcoming election.
Last night, one critic questioned whether the project was good use of public money.
But City manager David Haas said: “We have removed the windows and the artwork in the main hall during the work on the outside of the building.
“As officers we see it as an excellent opportunity for works to the inside of the hall as well and we will be recommending that to members in June.
“It will involve restoring the hall to the original colours, fitting improved and appropriate lighting and generally improving the already excellent amenity that the hall gives for civic functions and other events.
“We feel this is the best way to deliver as good a facility as possible for future generations and the city of Inverness.”
He said that funding will be drawn from the Inverness Common Good Fund, though he did not say how much the project would cost.
If approved by councillors work could start at the end of the summer and continue into September and October.
City centre councillor Donnie Kerr has been a long standing critic of the use of the common good fund.
He said: “I would question whether this is required before there is any expenditure on it.
“If the council wants it done then should pay for it themselves, not take more money out of the common good fund.”
Councillor Jim Crawford said: “When people see the Town House properly when the covers come off they will be very impressed, it looks magnificent.
“If we can restore the inside to a similar standard then it will probably be money well spent.
“We waste the money of the common good fund on things like street art, where this is exactly the kind of thing it should be used for.”
The scheme has been informed by a detailed analysis of the building by LDN Architects, which found that the town council appear to have met on site at least the 1670s.
Most of the current building dates back to 1878 with a substantial extension added in 1904.
In their report they highlighted the fine carving, decorative glass and roof design.
They added: “Detrimental to the building’s significance are the many ill-considered alterations, both internal and external, the poor condition of much of the stonework and, in places, the poor decorative order.”
The architects findings were informed by a report produced in February by John Nevin, a consultant on traditional paints.
It was found that the hall appears to have been redecorated six times since completion, roughly once every 30 years.
In their report the architects said: “Highland Council regard the present decorative scheme to be institutional and inappropriate.
“The general feeling is that the light wall colours detract from the richness of the decorative detail and do no reflect the Victorian qualities of the room.”
The proposed scheme is a use a “reddish brown” close in tone to the original design.
The architects added: “The scheme is intended to draw on the past and highlight the qualities of the decorative detail without reproducing a previous decorative scheme in its entirety.”
A spokeswoman for the council said: “The work proposed would be funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund subject to the agreement of the city of Inverness area committee with a report planned for the meeting set for June 19.
“With the work to the outside involving the refurbishment of all the windows in the main hall officers believe this to be an ideal opportunity to refurbish the paint work and lighting in the hall, especially noting that the pictures usually hanging in the hall are in storage.”
