An ongoing row about the correct name for a new Inverness care home has been resolved – after a final twist.
Simply UK, the company building the facility at Cradlehall say the home will now be called Castlehill Care Home, sidestepping a second row brewing over the name.
The company originally wanted to call the 90-bed facility Culloden House Care Home, but dropped the idea in January after local politicians suggested it was “highly inappropriate”.
Councillor Ken Gowans wrote to Simply UK for a change of heart, saying it was causing offence locally.
He said: “There is already a Culloden House in Culloden, which is of historic significance and has direct connections with the Battle of Culloden.
“Culloden is not a brand and should not be treated as such by businesses trying to capitalise on the name.”
The company then turned to Highland Council’s education department to try and involve local primary children in choosing a name.
They were turned down.
Linda Meston, Simply UK’s director of care said at that point they came up with the name researched from the area, Castlehill House.
However, this upset the owners of 300-year-old nearby Castlehill House.
Robert Clinton said: “Our only objection is they have no right to call it Castlehill House care home when it is simply not a house and will lead to multiple address issues.
“We would be perfectly happy for it to be called Castlehill care home or any other combination assuming ‘house’ is dropped.”
Mrs Meston confirmed yesterday that the ‘house’ had been dropped, and the home would simply be Castlehill.
She said: “Our intention was never to upset the community, and Castlehill seems a simple way of defining the difference.”
She added: “We were disappointed not to be allowed to work with the primary children, as we had wanted to offer sports equipment and book vouchers in exchange for them helping us with the name.”
A council spokeswoman said: “This is something we will need to look into and find out why the decision was made.”
The home is due to open at the beginning of December.
