Work starts on new care homes for Muir of Ord and Tain.
View photos (Tain and Muir of Ord)
Turf cutting ceremonies were held today (Monday 29 July) to mark the start of works on new care homes at Muir or Ord and Tain to replace the existing homes that serve the two communities.
Residents from Urray House, Muir of Ord, and Duthac House, Tain, were joined at the events by local Highland Council Members for the Dingwall & Seaforth and Tain & Easter Ross Wards as well as staff from Parklands Highland Ltd, which is the provider of the new homes for older people in the two communities, along with their build partner, Robertson.
Parklands Highland Ltd is now responsible for the operation of the existing homes at Urray House and Duthac House which were formerly run by The Highland Council. Council staff transferred to the employment of Parklands on 15 July 2013 . The homes will remain in operation until the new homes are completed in April 2014.
Councillor Angela MacLean on behalf of The Highland Council’s Dingwall & Seaforth Ward Members welcomed the start of works at Muir of Ord. She said: “This is the Council delivering another commitment in its Programme ‘to work with partners to complete the building of new care homes, run by the independent sector’. Families in Muir of Ord area can look forward to a brighter future for the care of their loved ones.”
Councillor Alasdair Rhind for Tain & Easter Ross Ward said: “Duthac House has served our community well but we are delighted that the people of Tain and area will now have a state of the art care home to care for our older people. We look forward to the completion and opening of the new home in 2014.”
Ron Taylor, managing director of Parklands Highland Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with The Highland Council and Robertson on this important project. The construction of these new care homes represents a significant step forward in the provision of care support for older people in Muir of Ord and Tain. This £5 million investment by Parklands will ensure that we continue to provide the best quality of care and support for residents in modern, purpose built facilities.”
Frank Reid, regional managing director of Robertson said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract for these new homes.
“We have worked closely with The Highland Council and Parklands on previous successful contracts and have been very pleased to be involved from the very beginning of this project with the development, design and now construction of homes that will provide the highest quality of care for older people in Ross-shire.”