Local priorities for Old Man of Storr pinpointed by Staffin residents at drop-in event
FORTY Staffin residents gave their views on the Old Man of Storr site at a special community drop-in event at the weekend.
A project team is carrying out an options appraisal of the site Staffin Community Trust (SCT) and held a consultation event in Staffin Hall on Saturday.
Richard Heggie of Urban Animation and Sam Foster Architects and SCT representatives discussed the project with attendees, highlighted the issues which were highlighted in the community consultation carried out in November last year and invited people to plot a revised layout using a model of the site. The people who attended the key consultation were positive about SCT’s involvement at the site and keen to see improvements.
Mr Heggie said: “We were pleased with the attendance at the drop-in event. More importantly, many of those who attended provided well-informed views which will be helpful in assessing the best solution for the Storr. Not surprisingly, the main issues raised were the urgent need to improve visitor safety which arising from this, the need for improved parking provision and the need for toilet facilities.
Saturday’s Storr event.
“Most people who attended agreed on these priorities. Over the next few weeks we’ll be reviewing feedback on other services that could be provided at the site.
“Many people also used our model of the site to suggest how parking and other facilities could be laid out. We photographed each of these suggestions and we’ll use them to help us assess the options for the site. There were some creative and bold suggestions.”
SCT and the project team will return to the community next month with another drop-in which will provide more information about the proposals and potential for each of the options.
If anybody was unable to make Saturday’s event they can read them, here: Storr display boards.Residents can also make their views known by calling in to the SCT office to view the model, by phoningdevelopment officer Hugh Ross on 562 464 or e-mailing staffin.ldo@gmail.com
SCT views the Storr as an opportunity for the local community to be involved in enhancing the current visitor experience, potentially create employment and market Staffin and local businesses far more strongly than at present. The project could involve a new off-road main car park, toilets, interpretation and refreshment kiosk/information point.
Saturday was also a very happy occasion for a popular local woman and her family and friends. SCT would like to congratulate former local development officer Marion Beaton, who married Gavin Anderson on Saturday.
The couple were married at the Church of Scotland in Portree on Saturday and held the reception and dance in a marquee in Flodigarry where a great time was had by all. Marion worked on all the SCT’s projects up to 2014, including the Storr, affordable housing in Staffin and helped secure significant funding to progress the Skye Ecomuseum development. Everybody in the community wishes the Andersons a long and happy marriage.