Council contingency plan to run Lews Castle

Contingency plan for Lews Castle operation 6/7/14

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar plans to take over the direct management and daily running of the partially redeveloped Lews Castle if it fails to get a hotel operator in place.

If certain conditions of the lease with leisure company Natural Retreats are not agreed within six months then the council will be ready to step in.

Natural Retreats was the only firm which bid to operate the castle as a five-star hotel and serviced apartments.

Council leader Angus Campbell said the move was a “fall-back” position to ensure at least the ground floor facilities - including a café for a new-build museum next door - would be operational even if the hotel plans fell through.

The contingency proposal - which would allow the castle to at least partially re-open after years of neglect and decay - would come into play if important clauses in the agreement being negotiated with Natural Retreats are not met by the end of December.

However, significant repairs to the upper floors will not proceed unless a £3.2 million shortfall is found to build 26 rooms and plush self-catering flats in the upper floors of the castle, including the upstairs principal rooms.

Mr Campbell said the council was in talks with potential funders in an attempt to meet the shortfall.

In addition, the Comhairle will invest more of its own money into the works while Natural Retreats is also expected to contribute.

In addition to the self-catering and guest rooms, Natural Retreats plans to have a staffed reception area, guest and lounge bar and on site café, retail and activity space as well as “unique function rooms to allow for weddings, conferences and events.”

Built by opium trader and Lewis landlord James Matheson in 1847, the deteriorating category A-listed building is on the Buildings At Risk Register.

Funding is secured for a modern new building for a Hebridean history and heritage centre adjoining the castle. Building work is underway and the premises will open in summer 2015.

The project has been dogged with recent controversy after it emerged the council quietly changed the initial proposals for a hotel into a self-catering facility.

The local authority admits the bigger, outside tourism operator will take trade away from some existing hospitality providers but insists there would be an overall boost to the local economy.