Landward councillor’s fury over cash for track demand
A LANDWARD councillor has told his colleagues to get "on your bike" after they argued £200,000 of proposed sports funding for Halkirk should be diverted to Thurso.
Willie Mackay was furious at the proposal from Donnie Mackay and John Rosie to transfer funds earmarked for a major sports facility in the village to be used to improve and extend a 200m running track at Thurso High.
The Thurso councillors made the suggestion during Highland
Council’s finance committee meeting last week when Mr Mackay said he has asked on many occasions for the transfer.
Both councillors claimed young athletes were forced to pound the streets of Thurso to train for competitions.
However, landward representative Mr Mackay was shocked by the comments as were some residents in Halkirk.
"I was totally taken aback by my colleagues who have been so thoughtless and inconsiderate in wanting to deny the landward village their money which is lodged in Highland Council’s capital discretionary fund," said Willie Mackay.
"What’s more, Donnie Mackay is a member of Caithness Sports Council, a body keen to promote sport for all and encourage new facilities like the major Halkirk development in the county.
"Since their cash for track demand, I have been inundated with calls from constituents in the Halkirk area and beyond so I will be digging in and fighting the landward corner if this ludicrous suggestion comes before the Caithness and Sutherland area committee."
He added: "On several occasions over the past few years, the Thurso councillors have asked me to support projects in their town from the landward discretionary budget which I supported and have obliged and now they want to swipe £200,000 from us. Well, for me, it’s a case of on your bike lads."
The landward representative doubted if it would even be possible to establish a 400m track at the school without removing a vast amount of the raised rugby and football pitches which are in constant use.
Halkirk Community Sports Foundation wants to use the money as part its aim to build three new facilities in the village.
It has already completed the first phase of building a new football stadium at Morrison Park but also plans to build a motor museum as well as the sports facility.
If all three projects are completed it is believed they will create new jobs in the village as well as improve the leisure and tourism sectors in Caithness.
It is expected both Thurso councillors will raise the issue at the next area committee meeting on Monday, November 18, with a venue still to be arranged.