Lews Castle ownership

The Comhairle has rejected claims it has "handed over" the Lews Castle to a multi-national compnay.

In a letter to Hebrides News - Amazing hypocrisy" of council leader - Lewis tourism operator, Graham Maclellan, criticised the council for giving the Lews Castle to a multinational company, to the detriment of existing Lewis businesses and local jobs.

The council is in the middle of a legal battle in defending court actions over complaints it acted unfairly in giving hotel firm, Natural Retreats, a lease of the castle.

The writ alleges Western Isles Council broke contract rules and acted unlawfully - a claim the authority is contesting.

Lews Castle will be kept in Comhairle ownership

22 April 2016

In a letter to hebrides News, Mr Maclellan maintained the council handed over the Lews Castle to an outside multinational company to the detriment of existing Lewis businesses and local jobs.

Council leader Angus Campbell accused Mr Maclellan of "distorting simple facts."

Mr Campbell said: "The truth of the matter is that Lews Castle hasn’t been “handed over” to anyone. The Castle remains in the ownership of the Comhairle with Natural Retreats working under a fully commercial lease as facilities operator.

"Natural Retreats were the successful bidder following an open and transparent procurement process into which Mr MacLellan or any other local, national or inter-national business could have bid."

The council leader said restoration of Lews Castle has been a multi-million pound redevelopment project, none of which has been awarded to Natural Retreats.

Natural Retreats will be investing a minimum of half a million pounds into the hospitality element of the project.

The Comhairle’s invested £6 million which, in turn, secured £13 million external funding to deliver the project, he added.

Mr Campbell said: "The money has gone into the physical restoration of the Castle as well as delivering a new state of the art museum and archive. It is a remarkable piece of restoration of which we can all be proud and that will serve the islands well for years to come.

"It is especially rewarding to see the restoration gaining national recognition as the winner in the Building Conservation category of the RICS 2016 awards."

He added: "Everyone who has viewed the Lews Castle redevelopment project to date has been hugely impressed with the standard of the regeneration works and the quality of the asset that will shortly be available for locals and visitors alike.

"It will be a major boost for the economy of the islands with the traffic from weddings alone generating much income for local tourism and accommodation providers.

"I look forward to the formal opening when all the community can visit and enjoy the magnificently restored Lews Castle."