Uig is “honoured and delighted”

The press release (3 November 2009) from the Uig community on the announcement of the St Kilda Centre decision.  Detail of the Uig vision for Ionad Hiort is now on its own page, where updates will also appear.

The community group in the Uig area of Lewis which has promoted the area’s claim to host Ionad Hiort/the St Kilda Centre has said they are “honoured and delighted” to have emerged as the recommended winners.

Last week, the Working Group set up by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to advise on the location of a St Kilda Centre, approved the recommendation of Jura Consultants, who have carried out an exhaustive appraisal of possible sites.

Following a meeting on Tuesday, the Uig group stated: “We are honoured and delighted not only to have emerged successful from this process but also because the margin of that outcome was so clear-cut.

“We paid close attention to the criteria laid down at the outset and constructed our proposal accordingly. In particular, we emphasised the outstanding quality of our chosen site and the concept of ‘accessible remoteness’ which it could bring to the project”.

The statement continued: “We are acutely aware that all of the bodies which were represented on the Working Group now have to approve the recommendation. Therefore, we will keep working very hard to secure that result while also taking forward our plans for the future.

“The Uig group has never participated in any negativism towards the other locations in contention with whom we look forward to working closely for the greater good of the Western Isles as a whole. We applaud the work that they have put into their bids to create an excellent competition.

“This will continue to be our approach”.

For further information, please contact Joni Buchanan on 01851-672274 or Gillian Davies on 01851-672748