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Bid to get power and water reconnected at Thurso football pavilion





The pavilion at the Dammies lost its water and electricity supply last summer. Picture: Mel Roger
The pavilion at the Dammies lost its water and electricity supply last summer. Picture: Mel Roger

Electricity and water supplies were cut off without warning at a facility run by Thurso Football Club, the town's community council was told.

Club vice-chairman Gary Leonard said the pavilion at Sir George's Park football pitch, known as the Dammies, lost its water and electricity supply last summer.

The pavilion – leased from Highland Council for a 25-year period – is licensed and hosted various functions, including small private parties, and was a source of income for the club.

Mr Leonard pointed out that other football teams also use the premises and the loss of the electricity and water has impacted on them all.

He said there had been a problem with the showers in the nearby changing rooms and checks were carried out on the water supply. It was then the local authority discovered the unmetered connection for the water and electricity at the pavilion – supplied from the changing rooms – and cut them off.

"There are faults on both sides but we are trying to get this sorted out for everyone who uses the pavilion. We all need to move quickly to get this resolved for the benefit of the clubs and the wider community and we are willing to do our part," Mr Leonard said.

Ewan Scott, the club chairman, said efforts are being made to fix the problems and he hopes the facility will be available when the new football season starts in August.

Councillor Struan Mackie, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness, said it is unfair that the "prime source of revenue has been taken away from the club" and maintained the issue has to be "sorted out sooner than later".

However, he thinks Highland Council, as the owner of the pavilion, "should be doing the legwork on this" and claimed there needs to be a different way of operating leases.

Thurso Community Council chairman Ron Gunn stressed the importance of the facility to the town.

"People are encouraged to take up sport and then they do this. We will back you as a community council and I am sure there are a lot of people who would help you out as well," he said.

Community councillor Rae Smith said Highland Council should bring the pavilion up to standard.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Scott said there had been "no real formal response" from the local authority and stressed the club is "taking a hit financially" while charity events staged at the venue cannot be held without power and water.

"We are trying to get reconnected and are happy to work with the council so we know where we stand but the communication has been very poor and Covid has not helped," he added. "We want to improve the pavilion but can't do that without electricity and water."

Mr Scott pointed out that the Dammies celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2021 but no celebrations took place at the time due to Covid, although it is hoped to mark the occasion later this year.

Meanwhile, work to improve the drainage at the football pitch is going ahead and is expected to be completed shortly.

Highland Council has been invited to comment.


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