Tenders sought for Staffin viewing platform
TENDERS for the construction of a viewing platform at a Skye waterfall have now been issued, writes Neill Bo Finlayson.
Staffin Community Trust (SCT) has issued an invitation to companies – including specialist contractors who have previously built platforms and bridges of this type – to bid for the contract to construct the platform at Lealt Gorge in Staffin which will form a key part of a major new heritage development.
The development trust has secured grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Coastal Communities Fund and SSE Sustainable Development to build the platform and has recruited Lothian-based engineer Geoff Freedman to design the steel platform and manage the project.
SCT believes the sensitively designed attraction will showcase Trotternish’s landscape all-year round and will provide commanding views of two waterfalls, up towards the Trotternish Ridge and across to Wester Ross.
An economic impact analysis estimated that the Staffin economy would be boosted by an additional visitor spend of £165,000 through the project’s delivery including construction works, new interpretation and the events programme.
The ecomuseum was first opened in Staffin a decade ago and is an outdoor museum with ‘no walls and a roofless sky’.
It includes a footpath network across Staffin with interpretation and parking.
SCT also has full planning permission to build a new car park with 20 vehicle spaces at Lealt to cater for the expected demand. This will be sited north of the existing car park and the tender will be issued imminently.
SCT chairman Ogilvie said: ‘The Sandy trust is making excellent progress towards the delivery of the platform and the car park, which is the culmination of a lengthy period of detailed and at times intense amount of work spread over the last few years.’
It is hoped to issue the tender for these contracts by April.