While we all hold or breath waiting for word from the Medway, there is good news from North of the border on Loch Lomond.
"Maid of the Loch", Loch Lomond’s Paddle Steamer, will be hauled out of the water on Tuesday 27 June as a test of the rebuilt slipway. Tied up at Balloch Pier since her withdrawal from active service in 1981, this will be the first time she has moved since then – 25 years ago.
“This is a really major step forward for usâ€, said Colin Paterson CBE, Chairman of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, the Maid’s owners. “Although we have spent 10 years refurbishing the Maid and opening her as a visitor attraction, this is a key milestone. The Maid will dwarf everything in the area and will be a sight to behold. It will be spectacular!†he added.
This dramatic achievement has been possible thanks to a £620,000 funding package from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire Council, and LLSC. The project started last September and its official opening will not take place until the internal refurbishment of the winchhouse, a visitor interpretation facility and external landscaping have been completed. This slipping is part of the rebuild contract and will be carried out by the contractor, Heritage Engineering Limited.
“There is huge excitement in the area for this, and we are keeping everything crossed that all goes according to planâ€, he added. “The significant point is that the Maid continues to make progress. We now have the facility to repair and upgrade the ship to make her sail again and we are confidently working on our plans to achieve thatâ€.
Mr Paterson said that the Maid would be closed for business on Monday in order to prepare her for the slipping process, such as disconnecting mains’ services and securing crockery and stores.
Director, John Beveridge, informs us that everything is on course for next Tuesday.
Visit the "Maid of the Loch" official web site at:
http://www.maidoftheloch.co.uk/PJ
Main Menu
UserBox
Search
