Huge blow to economy as hostel fails to open
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THE KYLE of Sutherland has been dealt a further economic blow with the confirmation that Carbisdale Castle Youth Hostel, will definitely not open for a second season running.
Repair work is still being carried out on the Category B listed hostel which was badly damaged by water ingress in the severe winter of 2010.
The Scottish Youth Hostel Association (SYHA) managers revealed this week that more structural damage than was at first anticipated had been uncovered.
And the cost of the repairs on the historic, 106-year-old building, which was originally built for the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland, has escalated to "several millions of pounds."
A spokesman said: "SYHA is not in a position to say when, with any certainty, Carbisdale is likely to re-open."
The news has been greeted with dismay by community leaders. The 150-bed castle attracted around 20,000 guests each year with an average 62 per cent occupancy over the 32-week season.
At the height of the summer season, the flagship hostel, located near Invershin and considered by the SYHA to be their "Jewel in the Crown", employed 18 full-time and seasonal staff, although the majority were recruited from outwith the local area.
Latterly the castle was establishing a solid reputation as a wedding venue. The hostel’s restaurant was also open to the public.
The castle has now been closed since March 2011.
Managers were forced to shut
the doors after frozen pipes prevented water from draining away from the roof, leading to it seeping through the ceiling and causing severed damage to ornate plaster work.
Most of the damage was to the west wing, where the kitchen and event area are situated. The castle’s large collection of art, including 19 Italian marble statues dating back to 1857, had to be put into storage.
An SYHA spokesperson revealed earlier this week: "As the building has been stripped for reinstatement repairs, further extensive structural and fabric damage has been uncovered.
"The works required to address this additional damage have become increasingly complicated and serious. While SYHA resources are not limitless, we are endeavouring to do all we can."
The spokesperson said that a portion of the overall costs
would be covered by insurance and that SYHA was currently considering a range of options with funders including Historic Scotland, but no final decision had yet been taken.
North West and Central Sutherland councillor Linda Munro said: "The closure of Carbisdale Castle has had a huge economic impact on the area."
She was critical of SYHA for not keeping the community informed about the progress of repair work. "It doesn’t help that the hostel’s website is not even updated," she said. Ardgay Community Council chairman David Hannah said local people were very upset at the continuing closure of the castle which had been a significant seasonal employer.
"University students used to get jobs there in the summer and all the local businesses were dependent on the hostel. People staying used to shop locally and frequent the local hotels," he said.
Lynsey Burns, of the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust, said: "We were hoping the hostel would be open by May or June this year but that now looks unlikely."
