Sleat War Memorial-Statement from Rob Ware, Working Group Facilitator
Added on 04 May 2018
Statement from Rob Ware, Facilitator Sleat War Memorial Working Group
As residents will know a working group to look at options for the refurbishment of the Sleat War Memorial was established following the public meeting held on 16th March 2016. The group was made up of representatives of the Sleat community who volunteered to work together with the remit to reach a point where the Memorial could be refurbished after many years of its deteriorating condition.
A number of meetings took place which included site visits, options appraisals and engagement with stakeholders including the Highland Council and the War Memorials Trust. The culmination of this extensive and complex process was the Public Meeting held on 11th January 2018 at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and which was independently chaired by Councillor John Finlayson, with officials from Highland Council in attendance.
As the community is aware the attendees at the meeting voted almost unanimously that the Memorial should remain in its current location and be refurbished as soon as possible, some offering support in different ways, once appropriate funding has been secured.
Since January there has been regular engagement between the principal parties involved, that being the Highland Council, Clan Donald Lands Trust and the Tenant. These parties will continue to discuss the issue and announcements will be made at the appropriate time.
It is evident at this point that the Working Group can no longer add value to the current dialogue, having brought the process to the current stage.
As a result, the Working Group will be dis-established with immediate effect.
As independent facilitator of the working group, I would sincerely like to thank all of those who generously gave their time and commitment during these past two years. I believe that the group have made a significant contribution to bringing to public and Council attention the urgent need to refurbish the Memorial to ensure its sustainable future.
Furthermore, I would like to thank the officers of Highland Council, past and present, for their valuable support in this matter, and special thanks are due to former Councillor Hamish Fraser and current Councillor John Finlayson for kindly chairing the two public meetings held.
A final note of appreciation must go to those that attended the meeting in January of this year and to those who provided correspondence with their views to the chair of that meeting.
Thank you.
Rob Ware