'Harrods of North' could rise from ashes
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A CHARITY is seeking £100,000 from Highland Council towards the cost of building a new visitor centre and restaurant at the Falls of Shin.
The Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust will find out next week if its bid to the council's Capital Discretionary Fund will be available to support its ambitious £1.2m project.
Building work to replace the fire-ravaged Falls of Shin Visitor Centre could begin as early as the Spring if major funders fall into line.
The area suffered an estimated drop in visitor numbers of 160,000 per year and 21 jobs were lost when the original site, owned by tycoon and former Harrods' owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, burned down two years ago.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Big Lottery Fund will confirm early in the new year if funding applications worth £1.2m have been approved.
Helen Houston, the Bonar Bridge-based Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust’s development manager, said: "It would be so sad if this project failed but we can only try because it is so important to the local community. Everyone has their fingers and toes crossed."
The full funding package, if successful, will be made up as follows:
• Big Lottery - £901,000 over three years, decision due February
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise - £203.500, decision due January
