Contractors agreed for new Eric Gray Centre
Adam Guest
The new, long-awaited Eric Gray Centre has moved a step closer – with local firm DITT Construction being awarded the contract.
The £6 million project will see a new centre built at Seafield, providing a range of services including for those with moderate to high-need learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and complex needs.
DITT said work is to start in August and last for two years.
Councillor Cecil Smith is chairman of the Integration Joint Board, which brings together council and social care services.
He said: “I’m extremely pleased to see the contract awarded for this new, purpose-built facility, which will support some of Shetland’s most vulnerable people, and which marks a significant investment by the Council at this time.
“The new building will provide a safe, flexible environment, and will be future-proofed to allow services to be delivered to those with a wide range of needs and abilities into the future.
“I’d like to pay tribute to officers who have brought the project to this stage, but perhaps more importantly to parents and service users, who have waited so long for this development to get underway, and also to the current staff at Eric Gray, who have all worked alongside us throughout this process.”
Operations director Peter Tait said the firm was delighted to be awarded the contract.
“There’s a degree of uncertainty in the economy so it gives a good deal of confidence to everybody moving forward.
“It’s nice to be involved in a project like this where you can see a positive result.”
For more see Friday’s Shetland Times.
Neil Risk
Fantastic news for the clients, families and carers and the dedicated staff who have have provided a very good standard of care in a facility which has been completely inadequate for a considerable period of time.
Thanks are due to Councillors Cecil Smith and Allison Duncan, and former councillor Leonard Groat for their support. Thanks are also due to the staff past and present at Eric Gray and the schools throughout Shetland who have had to cope with young adults who could not transition to adult services because of the inadequacy of the facilities at the Eric Gray Centre.
I am also delighted that a local contractor will be building the new centre. Good news all round