PLANS are afoot to transform the janitor’s house at Merkinch Primary into a Healthy Living Centre at a cost estimated to run into six figures.

While the present building, with its little 19th century rooms, is perhaps not as ideal as custom-built premises might be, the plans would make the best use of what is available and provide Merkinch with a valuable facility.

The idea is that a holistic view would be taken of the community’s health, with matters relating to diet, dental health, parental support and general well-being all coming under one roof.

At a public meeting last month, the proposals were outlined. These include providing gas central heating, plus disabled access to the ground floor.

A conservatory-type porch would have room for prams etc. On the ground floor it is planned that there would be disabled toilets, and facilities for oral health and parental support.
Upstairs there would be an area designated for personal well-being and nutrition consultations, plus a kitchen and toilet. Architect of the project is Les Hutt.
Planning consent could take at least three months, because as a listed building the application has to go to Edinburgh for approval. And it could be April 2003 before the centre was in operation.

If the bid to gain funding is submitted to the New Opportunities Fund by January 2002 it will not be known if it has been successful until September 2002.
However, it is felt locally that the chances of success are very good.
There had been some disappointment that the New Community Schools project had been “spirited away” when it moved from Merkinch Primary to Inverness High, so this is seen as a way of levering facilities back into the community.
Said Colin MacAulay of the New Community Schools project, “The key thing is how to get the community involved in managing this facility.”