A senior councillor has condemned the possible use of £500,000 of public money to temporarily “wrap” another Inverness building in an effort to improve its image.
The cost of aluminium cladding on the front and one side of the museum and art gallery would be met by the promised UK Government “City Deal.”
Architects have given their blessing for the giant facade.
But Highland Liberal Democrat leader Alasdair Christie yesterday (MON) questioned the timing of such significant spending when the region’s council is facing unprecedented budget cuts – £50million next year alone that will cost services and hundreds of jobs.
“I’m concerned about £500,000 being spent on anything at times of austerity,” he said.
“It could be spent on so much more throughout the city that actually improves people’s quality of life.”
North Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon described the sum as “extortionate at a time when so many savings and cuts have to be made.”
However, she described the artistic curtain on the front of the neighbouring Town House as “quite beautiful and eye catching” – which is the ambition of planners.
The cladding is being seen as a medium term stop-gap to conceal the existing concrete eyesore before a new museum and gallery are built when public finances allow.
Inverness Civic Trust chairman James Maxwell said: “On the basis of having another 10 years looking at this building, this seems an appropriate way of trying to enhance it.
“It’s not only something that will improve the aesthetic – make it more modern for now – but it’s also something that will be lit up at night. It’s going to be much more obvious to the public, both daytime and nighttime, so we welcome it.”
Council planners say the aluminium cladding is “bold and eye catching,” and will improve the environment in front of the castle. It would complement plans to improve the image of Castle Wynd and the castle’s nearby north tower.
City provost Helen Carmichael said: “This is an exciting start to the regeneration of the city centre.
“Adding the cladding to a building which, at the moment, is easy to overlook is an imaginative and creative way to quickly have an impact and make the heart of Inverness more attractive.”
Ian Murray of the council’s arms-length organisation High Life Highland was delighted with the proposal.
“We have recently changed the winter hours to five-day opening and upgraded the cafe and shop to enable the museum to play a greater role in attracting visitors to this part of the city and holding them longer,” he said.
The cladding would be made from “maintenance-free” light sandstone-coloured anodised, perforated aluminium to complement the neighbouring stone of the Town House.
Given the light reflective properties of the wrapping, its appearance would alter.
Its perforation pattern has been designed to reflect a map of Inverness, the River Ness and Caledonian Canal.
It would be finished with perforated, varying circles and a mix of polished and matt surfaces. The panels will be back-lit using LED lighting to provide a graded glow.
It has been designed by local architects Three sixty Architecture. If approved, work would begin late next summer.