Head of Lairg and District Community Initiatives Kaye Hurrion to stand down at end of year as community housing project completed
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The head of Lairg and District Community Initiatives (LDCI) has announced that she will be standing down now the organisation has brought a major community housing project to fruition.
Kaye Hurrion, chairperson of the LDCI board, revealed her intention to leave the voluntary role at the end of this year.
The keys to the eight new homes, built on the site of the former Sutherland Arms Hotel, were handed over last Thursday by contractors Compass Building and Construction Services to Albyn Housing, who have been working with LDCI on the scheme.
The completion of the £2.3 million project has previously been reported in the Northern Times.
Ms Hurrion, who has served as LDCI chairperson for five years, told Lairg Community Council at its last meeting that she felt her time leading the group was coming to an end now that the housing project had been completed.
“The housing project was what I really wanted to deliver and now it is finished, she said. “This is my last year with LDCI, not only as the chairperson but as a board member, so we need to look for more board members.”
Ms Hurrion joined LDCI with no previous experience of working with a development group – her background is in veterinary medicine.
“I joined the board when we moved to Lairg,” she said. “I wanted to prove to the community that I was serious about living here.”
She admitted it had been “huge learning curve”.
“There has never been a day when there is nothing to do,” she said.
Ms Hurrion said the handover of the homes had been emotional for both her and Kirsty Campbell, the development and investment manager for Albyn Housing.”
“We have been working together on this project since 2019 and it is wonderful to see it completed. All eight houses have been allocated and the residents will start moving in on Friday,” she said.
“The LDCI board has been overwhelmed by the number of kind messages we have received since the handover last Thursday.
“I would personally like to thank all of the LDCI previous boards and development officers as well as our project consultant Susan Clark, who have all helped to make this incredible project a reality.”
Ms Hurrion also said she was particularly proud of LDCI’s annual Winterfest in Lairg.
The start attraction of the hugely popular event is traditionally the parade which features Father Christmas in a sleigh pulled by live reindeer from the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre.
Winterfest attracts visitors to the village from far and wide.
“Last year’s Winterfest was really successful. It is growing arms and legs and just getting better and better every year,” she said. “I’ve already booked the reindeer for this year’s event!”
