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Cycling offences in Wick, Caithness’s ‘biggest social problem’ and Lottery cash hopes for Pulteney





LOOKING BACK: News from the John O’Groat Journal of yesteryear

Postcard view of Keiss, postmarked 1948, with ivy-covered buildings. Comment on the back: 'Weather is none too good.' Henrietta Munro Collection
Postcard view of Keiss, postmarked 1948, with ivy-covered buildings. Comment on the back: 'Weather is none too good.' Henrietta Munro Collection

Cycling offences to the fore

From the Groat of February 20, 1925

Several young men had appeared before the magistrates at Wick Police Court charged with cycling without lights after lighting-up time.

Imposing fines of five shillings on each offender, Provost Green stated that this class of offence was becoming far too common, and that the magistrates were determined to suppress it.

He wished, he said, to warn the public that for offences of this nature more substantial penalties would be imposed in future.

Similar fines were handed out to three carters who had pleaded guilty to driving their vehicles without lights after lighting hours.

At the same court, two local men had been fined for loitering on the pavement. They argued that they had been standing on “the strand and not the pavement” but this explanation cut no ice with Provost Green, who “characterised the practice as objectionable”.

Meanwhile, the cells at the new police station in Thurso were ready for use. The Clerk of the Peace at Wick had received official intimation that the cells had been “certified by the Secretary for Scotland for the detention of prisoners for any period not exceeding 14 days before, or during, or after trial”.

The use of the former cells at the old station in Wilson Lane had been discontinued.

Alcoholism the ‘canker of Caithness’

From the Groat of February 21, 1975

An extensive course of treatment for the canker of Caithness – alcoholism – was being planned.

Moves were afoot to form a Caithness Council on Alcoholism “in order to tackle the county’s biggest social problem on a wide front”.

A comprehensive report into the issue had been prepared by the social work department. It reported that a possible key to why drink was such a problem in the area was “the fact that heavy drinking was not generally condemned in this county and was often a learned experience for the young”.

The report also mentioned that a shortage of recreational facilities for young people “helped to increase the attractiveness of public bars and clubs”.

The report stated that “if the growing problem of alcoholism is to be managed successfully then there requires to be a radical approach to prevention in terms of adequate education, treatment and aftercare”.

It was noted that, of 72 social inquiry reports requested by Wick Sheriff Court over the course of a year, 55 had been concerned with alcohol.

Excessive drinking was said to be a contributing factor to family breakdown, unemployment and appearances in court. The report also expressed concern about parental acceptance of teenage and underage drinking.

Lottery cash hopes for Pulteney

From the Groat of February 25, 2000

It was hoped that National Lottery funding could be obtained to refurbish historic properties in Lower Pulteneytown that had been designed by Thomas Telford.

According to Highland Council’s Caithness area economic development services manager, David Richard-Jones, the Heritage Lottery Fund was “quite excited” by the Pulteney proposals.

Mr Richard-Jones told the Wick Project Steering Group that the development would create a “lasting tribute to Telford”, who had been commissioned by the British Fisheries Society to design a new town to accommodate the growing workforce at the time of the booming herring industry.

He stated that a significant number of Telford’s buildings remained in Pulteneytown and, “as far as we know, there is no area in the UK which is dedicated to Telford’s work, so this could be quite a unique and important project”.

He added that the scheme would “create a unique example of industrial architecture in Lower Pulteney which still serves its original use as a residential area alongside the harbour of Wick”.

Elsewhere, a Caithness firm was being wound up after encountering financial difficulties. Celtic Waters Ltd, which had taken over premises in Bank Row, Wick, two years previously, had ceased trading.

Prior to the financial difficulties, the company had been planning to expand its business and move to a purpose-built site at Wick Industrial Estate at a cost of up to £800,000.


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