Building Briefs – November 11th

  • Renovation complete on iconic Inveraray structure

A historic structure in Inveraray has been successfully renovated during a recent project.

Argyll and Bute Council invested £200,000 to restore the Category A-listed Avenue Screen.

Scaffolding, which was first erected at the site in January, has been removed and the finishing touches have been made to the work, which saw the Avenue Screen’s cement render removed and replaced with traditional lime render. Work was also carried out on the famous archway’s gates.



Weather-proofing was also completed as part of the council’s drive to protect Inveraray’s architectural appearance following previous major repair and conservation works to a string of buildings in the town.

 

  • Essential bridge repairs to take place on A8

A series of essential bridge joint repair works are moving forward on the A8.



Traffic restrictions will be implemented along the route westbound between the Bargeddie roundabout and Swinton roundabout to facilitate the work. These will begin on Friday 08 November and run for four consecutive weekends between 8am on Friday until 6am on Monday.

 

  • Council agrees funding for Kilmarnock theatre repairs

East Ayrshire Council has agreed funding for the £8 million refurbishment of Kilmarnock’s Grand Hall & Palace Theatre Complex.



The local authority confirmed work in the region of £6-8m will take place at the complex to preserve the building and address the drainage issues which are harming the stonework.

The improvement works have been outlined following a review of East Ayrshire Council’s 307 properties earlier this year. The review considered the overall performance of the buildings, which included the condition of the buildings, condition of the components, accessibility, utilisation, energy efficiency and running costs.

The review concluded that 146 properties were deemed to be performing well; a further 146 properties were performing as expected and 15 properties were underperforming, in terms of the fabric of the building. Of these 15 properties, two require ‘major capital investment’ in order to improve – the Palace theatre and the Grand Hall.

Speaking about the findings, Councillor Douglas Reid said: “There has been substantial investment in the complex in recent years to preserve the stonework and maintain the roof, as well as internal refurbishments, so it’s very disappointing to learn that despite our very best efforts, this classic venue is still in need of so much attention.



“Today we were asked to note the financial implications associated with the Palace Theatre complex, and that an additional funding allocation in the region of £5m will be incorporated into Capital Programme proposals when this is reviewed in February, with East Ayrshire Leisure Trust seeking to generate grant funding.

“In terms of the present day, patrons should know that the building is safe and operational and will continue to be so until further notice. We will be working with colleagues in the Trust to develop a plan and timescale for these works and it would be our hope that these can be conducted on a phased and managed basis, to allow us to continue to offer the same cultural programme our patrons have come to know, love and expect over the years.

“This requires our immediate attention and we will work tirelessly with colleagues in East Ayrshire Leisure Trust to find a solution. This venue is one of the best provincial theatres in Scotland, outwith the major cities and together we will do all we can to preserve it.”


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