Demolition work under way at former cinema and nightclub in Wick
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A demolition team has begun work on getting rid of a prominent eyesore building in Wick's High Street.
The former cinema and nightclub has lain as a burnt-out ruin since a fire gutted it in 1996 but this week contractors from Munros of Alness have been busy dismantling the remains.
Yesterday, workers said that careful assessment of any hazardous materials such as asbestos had been undertaken and the demolition was progressing according to plan.
The work finally ends any speculation that the former Pavilion cinema would be rebuilt "brick by brick", as the former owners had told the John O'Groat Journal in January 2018.
The demolition follows months of negotiations as part of a town centre regeneration effort led by Highland councillors for Wick and East Caithness. They are calling it a major step forward for the town centre and "a bright light in these dark times”.
In a joint statement, local councillors Nicola Sinclair and Raymond Bremner said: “It has been a long time in the planning and we were hoping that the demolition would follow quickly after the purchase of the two sites by Highland Housing Alliance, so we are delighted to see that it's going ahead already."
The councillors hope the demolition work will give the community confidence that they are "intent on moving forward with the regeneration of the town centre" even while in the midst of exiting from Covid-19 lockdown.
“We committed to a number of other projects that were interrupted by the lockdown in March and we will be hearing the progress on those projects in the next few days," the councillors added.
The former Sloans premises at 126 High Street will also be flattened, with ownership returned to the community once site clearance has been completed. Ideas will be sought for redevelopment at the two locations.
The councillors' statement continued: “We are aware of speculation on what might happen to the sites but we have been clear all along in respect of this. After demolition contracts are completed, the two sites will be transferred to Wick’s Heart [Wick Development Trust]. They will be reviewing the options and that will involve consulting with the local community.
"We are sure there will be a lot of interest, public and private, that will be in the mix of options to redevelop the sites but that will all be coordinated by Wick’s Heart.
“Right at this moment, however, we are simply looking at completing the project of purchase, demolition and transfer and it’s really exciting and quite satisfying to see the visual progress now.”
Speaking on behalf of the family who owned the property, Joe Ahmed told the paper in January 2018: “We shall rebuild the Pavilion brick by brick to make it the way it was.”
At that time, his brother Khazir Ahmed, who ran Dominoes nightclub, had talked of lodging plans with Highland Council to redevelop the site.
The ruined building had once carried a banner on its front claiming that a restaurant, cinema and nightclub were planned for 2008 but the only change visible in the last 10 years had been a coat of blue paint.
A local woman passing the site today said she had many great memories of going to the cinema and nightclub but was glad to see the building finally go.
Caithness civic leader Willie Mackay said: “This is a giant step forward in the Wick town centre regeneration plans. A lot of hard work has gone into getting the money to have this eyesore adjacent to the A99 cleared and tidied up."
Eyesore buildings in Wick town centre to be demolished
