Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, who has been a fervent supporter of Lochaber Sport Association’s (LSAs) bid for an indoor training facility, and who has been working assiduously for 5 years now to bring the facility to life, stressed in a recent email to Highland Council, that it is incumbent on both Highland Council and NHS Highland, to recognise their role in helping to fund investment in the area.

Mr Thompson welcomed Highland Council’s agreement to contribute £200,000, but asked that they increase their contribution significantly in light of the developments at Blar Mhor, particularly given they are the main beneficiaries of the reduced cost site acquired from Tesco.

Dave said, “The Scottish Government and Highland Council, aided by SportScotland have been working tirelessly to help bring the indoor training facility to life and have already pledged considerable funds towards the capital costs.

“I welcome Highland Council’s agreement to contribute £200,000 so far. However, I would ask the council to consider their decision in light of the developments at Blar Mhor, especially as they will be the main beneficiaries of the reduced cost site acquired from Tesco and ask that NHS Highland consider what further role they can play to help fund investment in this area”.

Dave went on, “There clearly needs to be significant investment in Lochaber and Fort William in particular that goes beyond the spending that will ensue from the new hospital and the redevelopment of the old Belford site and I hope in time contributions are increased significantly to bring this project in Lochaber to life”.

Notes:

Email sent to Mr J Stuart Black (Director of Development & Infrastructure) on Friday 28 January below:

“Dear Mr Black,

Thank you for your reply on behalf of the Chief Executive.

There clearly needs to be significant investment in Lochaber and Fort William in particular that goes beyond the spending that will ensue from the new hospital and the redevelopment of the old Belford site.

The £400k from Tesco was a clear indication of the value placed on their development and as the inheritors Highland Council and NHS Highland already have a moral obligation to follow this through. To make this point further It is incumbent on both Highland Council and NHS Highland as large employers in the area and as beneficiaries of the reduced cost of the Blar Mhor site acquired from Tesco to recognise their role in helping to fund investment in the area.

The proposals by the Lochaber Sports Association are a big step forward in improving Lochaber’s amenity, employment, investment and general health wellbeing; as such, both NHS Highland and Highland Council have a vested beneficial interest in providing funds for its development.

Highland Council’s agreement to contribute £200,000 so far is very welcome but I would ask you to reconsider your decision in light of the developments at Blar Mhor and look to increasing the contribution significantly.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Dave Thompson SNP MSP
For Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

Email to Dave from Viccie Masson On Behalf Of Stuart Black on 22 December 2015 below:

“Dear Mr Thompson

Lochaber Sports Association

Thank you for your email of 8 December to the Chief Executive regarding the Lochaber Sports Association (LSA).  The Chief Executive has asked me to respond to your enquiry.

Unfortunately the £400,000 referred to by Tesco, and included in their legal agreement with the Highland Council, was not a developer contribution but was a community benefit contribution offered voluntarily by Tesco. There was no planning justification to insist on a payment for community purposes as the proposed supermarket did not directly impact on services for the local community. Tesco’s offer to pay this amount was strictly subject to their new supermarket opening on the Blar Mhor retail site.

Once the NHS has the funds to develop a new hospital, the existing Belford Hospital will be transferred to the Highland Council. The Council will prepare a development brief for the site following consultation with local members in the New Year.

However it is unlikley that the site will generate sufficient surplus value to create significant developer contributions for sports facilities in the area, and the development of the site will be challenging unless there is a substantial change in the retail and residential market in Fort William

The Highland Council will of course work with Lochaber Sports Association and its partners to try and identify alternative external funding sources to meet the current shortfall in funding.

Yours sincerely

J Stuart Black
Director of Development & Infrastructure

Email from Dave to Highland Council Chief Executive, Steve Barron, sent on December 8, 2015 below:

“Dear Steve

I write regarding the reduction in the grant Highland Council are prepared to give to the Lochaber Sport Association (LSA) to allow them to build the much needed covered sport building adjacent to Lochaber High School.

The reason given for the reduction in grant to £200k was that the Council had lost £400k of developer contribution from Tesco when they decided not to develop their store in Fort William.

The good news is the project still retains the confidence of other funders, notably Sport Scotland, who are still offering all that they offered originally for the project to proceed.

In another development, as you are very much aware, Highland Council have bought the site of the now defunct store from Tesco for £2m at a loss to Tesco of £6m against their original purchase consideration.

This site will now be used for the new Lochaber Hospital to replace the ageing Belford Hospital and this will release the current Belford site for Highland Council to develop.

As already pointed out by Lochaber’s Councillors it would be a great shame if this site is only used for housing, when a combined commercial and housing development so near to the main centre of Fort William could generate much needed commercial funding and or developer contribution.

And it is this development contribution and or commercial sponsorship, whether from Highland Council itself, NHS Highland and/or commercial organistaions, that I am keen to flag up as the shortfall in the LSA grant might therefore be met from this or these sources.

If this can be made to work with the best endeavours of Highland Council then Fort William could look forward to a new hospital, a new covered sports complex and an excellent commercial/housing development at the Belford site. Surely a win,win,win  situation that should be strived for by all those who wish Lochaber well?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Dave Thompson SNP MSP
For Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch”