Incendiary video raises racial tensions in Wick – ‘No illegal immigrants at site,’ says Cllr Bremner
Highland councillor Raymond Bremner attempted to quell tensions in Wick over rumours that a former government building complex was “being used to house illegal immigrants”.
Many in the town vented their fears after a video was shared on Facebook with a local confronting three men coming out of a car and entering the former DSS building on Girnigoe Street. Some said they would stage a “peaceful protest” outside the building and talked about the safety of their children if asylum seekers were housed at the site.
Locals commenting felt their opinions were validated when screenshots were shared from Highland Council’s planning portal showing that permission had been applied for by Mrs Rena Gulay for “change of use of the former Job Centre Plus Office on Girnigoe Street, Wick” to a hotel or hostel.
The planning permission was, however, validated over two years ago, and the site is now part of an ongoing police investigation after a large cannabis cultivation was discovered there in June this year.
Strangely, there are posters on many windows of the building complex, which highlight that the site is a mosque, and yet local Muslims and an imam from Inverness say they had no knowledge of the building being used as a place of worship.
The number of people seeking asylum in the UK who require accommodation has increased in recent years. The increasing reliance on hotels to house migrants has sparked a range of concerns across the country, impacting both the migrants themselves and the surrounding communities.
Wick and east Caithness councillor Raymond Bremner addressed the issue in a Facebook post this afternoon after saying he was contacted by “some concerned members of the community last night in respect of comments they were seeing online”.
Cllr Bremner stated in his post: “I believe that comment has been made that the building is being used to house ‘illegal immigrants’ and reference has been made to drawings of planning applications in respect of the possible use of the building as a hostel.
“As I understand it, the planning applications and planning decisions were made two years ago, although there are other recent planning references online.”
Cllr Bremner, who is also Highland Council’s leader, stated that he was currently travelling outside of Caithness but, due to the importance of the issue, had sent communications to council officers and Police Scotland.
“The building is owned privately and the council have no responsibility for the activity that takes place in the building. As far as I'm led to believe, the building is not being used to house illegal immigrants, and any conclusions being drawn online from persons entering the building yesterday in that consideration are not correct.”
Cllr Bremner highlighted the Groat article from June to show how recent the police investigations have been.
Police Scotland was contacted, and its spokesperson reiterated a previous comment on the drug bust at that location, stating: “Around 6.15pm on Wednesday, 11 June, 2025, officers attended a disused premises on Girnigoe Street, Wick. A cannabis cultivation was discovered within and enquiries are ongoing.”
The spokeswoman stressed that “there are still ongoing enquiries in respect of that” and “there are no people resident in the building”.
Cllr Bremner added: “If anyone considers that the building is being used for any criminal or illegal use, please get in touch with Police Scotland on 101. They will be keen to hear from you.
“The council and Police Scotland have been made aware of the online comments. Police Scotland have been in touch with me this morning and will monitor the situation.
“Thanks to those who were in touch. I've pulled over at a service station to give folk this update – I hope it helps but whilst some people were seen going into the building yesterday, there is no consideration that illegal immigrants are being housed there.”