A bid to develop new facilities in one of Inverness's oldest areas has been withdrawn.

The regeneration fund bid of £2 million would have provided the finance needed to develop community and family centre's in Merkinch.

However, after a meeting between the Highland Council and representatives of local organisations in Merkinch, it was agreed to withdraw the regeneration fund bid.

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Other sites will now be considered for the enhanced facilities while different funding stream avenues will be explored.

The council's Director of Care and Learning, Bill Alexander, said: "It [the meeting] recognised the concerns of users of the community centre about potential disruption to their current activities, and also that there are needs and aspirations within the community that cannot be met by the existing local services.

"It is important that we encourage further investment in Merkinch, but also important that we reassure users of the community centre, that their current activities will not be disrupted."

(LM)