MACLENNAN Crescent residents gave their seal of approval, at a meeting on 20th February, to plans drawn up by Council architects for the improvements of their homes and were assured that “everything humanly possible“ would be done to see the programme complete in the next two years.

Architects and housing officials explained how the current 68 units will be reduced to 48 larger, improved homes. Kitchens and bathrooms are to be enlarged – and one-bedroomed flats will be done away with by turning these blocks into semi-detached houses. Not only would the long-neglected houses be bigger, but special needs could be catered for.

Residents were guaranteed that if they did not want to move from the Crescent they would not have to – there were sufficient empty properties to allow people to be decanted as the improvement programme proceeded along the crescent. Residents would not necessarily be able to move back into the same flat, for instance, as there would no longer be any one-bedroomed flats.

“But nobody is going to have to leave – we’re not wanting to move anyone on that doesn’t want to,” said Councillor Peter Corbett, who was chairing the meeting.

For the sake of security, shared stairs to flats would be done away with, and individual stairways built. Extensions would be built on the front of these blocks to allow for larger bathrooms and stairs.

The architects said there was still a fabric survey into joist ends etc to be carried out – the buildings often suffered from condensation due to single glazing, lack of insulation and pre-cast concrete stairs. All the buildings would be re-rendered.

In most cases parking would be made available off-street, and – a little aesthetic touch – chimneys were to be retained for the sake of preserving the buildings’ character. Gardens – mostly to the rear – would be low-maintenance with gravel which can be planted on.

Parents indicated concern about the safety of their children and it was pointed out that the plan involved turning Maclennan Crescent into a cul-de-sac, by blocking off the Anderson Street end and possibly even building a unit across it.

Their plan also showed a possible site for a well protected children’s play area which would be gated, principally to keep dogs out. The fencing would be of the sort that allows the play area to be overlooked.

Highland Council’s housing chairman Councillor Ella MacRae said that, given the okay by the residents and a positive result from the fabric survey, she hoped the improvements could make a start in the financial year starting April 2001.

Local residents association secretary Alex Macleod warned, “If the tenants agree to these plans we won’t put up with any prevarication or procrastination.”

Given that things went smoothly she was certain the improvements could be done over two years. “They can’t all be done at once,” she said, “but if we get approval – and we are very optimistic that we will – a start could be made in a matter of months.”