New plans needed to rebuild fire-damaged health centre

Minor alterations have forced a Highland community to take their plans to rebuild their fire-damaged health centre back the drawing board.The Cill Chuimein Medical Centre in Fort Augustus was completely destroyed by a devastating fire in October 2015.The Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company has managed to raise more than £700,000 to fund a rebuild – and last year obtained planning permission for the work.But now they have had to reapply for permission because of minor alterations to the design, including moving some of the windows and doors to fit with current NHS guidance.The community company has insisted there is no major changes and have said they are hopeful the revised plans will be quickly approved to allow them to start work.It is hoped that work could start in mid to late spring.Fort Augustus lost its medical practice in the devastating fire which ripped through the building on a Sunday afternoon.Nobody was injured but the building was destroyed.The village’s GPs have been based in temporary accommodation in the Telford Centre since the fire.The new building will house the GPs as well as other medical services.