Moray Council respite centre Taigh Farrais in Forres to be sold as residential property
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A FORMER respite centre in Forres owned by Moray Council is under offer as a residential property.
Taigh Farrais - taken over in 2011 from operators Grampian Living Options to provide care for people suffering from physical disabilities - closed in 2018 following an announcement by the Moray Integration Joint Board (MIJB) that it was under-used.
The local authority is now selling the 'potential five-bedroom house' as a large private dwelling, guest house or as a residential institution.
Moray Councillor Lorna Creswell (Independent, Forres) toured the facility when she was chairwoman of Health and Social Care Moray.
She said: "It was a good facility as it provided for families who were carers and needed a break.
"It had hoists installed for staff to move clients from their wheelchairs to beds etc. It also had a small kitchen for clients to meet for meals and bedrooms.
"The service was used by adjacent local authorities at that time but Taigh Farrais was often not full to capacity. It needed new equipment to provide for new regulations of care."
Two years ago, Cllr Creswell asked if the building could be incorporated with neighbouring Cameron Court or considered for a Community Asset Transfer.
However, MIJB noted when making its decision to sell Taigh Farrais that it had a responsibility to “ensure best value” when deploying public resources.
The single storey property has a lock block parking area for up to five cars and enclosed garden areas to the rear.
The building comprises the original timber framed and block rendered walls, with pitched timber roofs clad in interlocking concrete tiles. It is finished internally with plasterboard walls and ceilings with a mixture of carpeted, vinyl and laminated floors.
It also has double glazing and gas central heating.
Moray Council has priced Taigh Farrais at £199,500.
