BUILDING work on the old Argyll Bar at the Waterloo Bridge end of Grant Street is nearing completion.

Ewen Gillies Builders have created nine flats at the rear of the bar and are finishing a further five flats on the site of the bar for Scottish Homes. As the builders prepare to move on Ewen Gillies (Senior) said: "It’s a very tight corner to work in, extremely tight corner, and we would like to thank everybody in the community for their patience and support." The firm started off life 31 years ago when Ewen (Senior) opened a small yard in Upper Kessock Street. Further small offices and yards were developed in Madras Street and Abban Place but the company has grown over the years and now has purpose built premises in Seafield Road in the Longman.

Ewen Gillies Builders have completed a number of projects in the Merkinch area and hope to do more. "We’ve done many projects in this area and some of our next projects will be in Lochalsh Road and Abban Street. We are looking to support the community and hope some of our future developments might be a new and very modern Doctors Surgery and further development of new and re-developed houses in keeping with the character of the area."