Western Isles Transport Preservation Group plan to run a winter programme of social evenings to the public in their new meeting space.
The first phase of converting the former McConnells’ salmon processing factory in Marybank by Stornoway is complete.
The group face a financial struggle in upgrading the facility into transport heritage centre.
They ran out of time and money and faced having to reapply for fresh planning permission having exhausted a number of extensions to the building warrant.
Windfarm charity Point and Sandwick Trust came to their rescue with a £7,000 grant to help buy heaters, install a hearing loop and intercom, improve the kitchen and cafeteria area, and also install fire alarms.
The cash helped finish off the creation of office space, a meeting room, cafeteria space, kitchen and toilets.
This part of the building is 20% of the overall footprint – but Transport Preservation Group Chair James Macleod said it was a major step forward as it was now fully complaint with regulations, allowing them to open it to the public.
This means they can open out their winter social evenings – held on the third Wednesday of every month at 8pm, beginning September – to anyone who is interested, whereas previously it was only members of the group who were allowed in.
Mr Macleod said: “James said: “We had applied for a number of extensions but the work was never complete and we were being warned by building control that they weren’t prepared to give us any more extensions.
“We were within days of the deadline, when Point and Sandwick Trust came to our aid.
“The assistance from Point and Sandwick got us over the threshold to get the building finished and we are very, very grateful to them for coming to our rescue at a crucial time.”
Transport heritage centre grant award
4 September 2018