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LOOKING BACK: Insanitary housing in Wick, Caithness development plan criticised and council officials back Lidl





An old postcard view of Dunbeath, a rural landscape dominated by the silhouette of the Scarabens. Henrietta Munro Collection
An old postcard view of Dunbeath, a rural landscape dominated by the silhouette of the Scarabens. Henrietta Munro Collection

Insanitary housing in Wick

From the Groat of October 3, 1924

The Wick burgh surveyor had raised concern about the insanitary conditions in a number of properties in the Louisburgh area of the town.

There was considerable discussion at a meeting of the town council about the issues, the outcome being that notices were to be served on the proprietors of the houses.

The surveyor’s report had referenced the homes of 20 tenants, representing 105 inhabitants, “which were in a defective state from a sanitary point of view; indeed several of the houses would be declared uninhabitable if accommodation could be otherwise obtained.”

Councillor Andrew Cook stated that “before there would be any improvement some of the people in that locality would require to be educated to new ideas of hygiene”.

Provost Green commented that there was “no question that Louisburgh is one of the dirtiest parts of the town”.

Meanwhile, a well-attended public meeting had been held in Lybster “to consider ways and means of constructing a golf course” in the area.

Mr D Campbell, who chaired it, “emphasised the benefit which the village would derive from the possession of even a small course”.

The meeting agreed unanimously that “a strong effort should be made to accomplish their objective, and a representative committee was appointed to make plans and carry out the work”.

Development plan criticised

From the Groat of October 4, 1974

The Caithness County Development Plan: Interim Review was the subject of criticism by members of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce.

The plan had been drawn up to identify ways of benefiting from North Sea oil developments after the county had lost out on the siting of a fabrication yard at Dunnet Bay.

However, chamber members were critical of what they saw as inaccuracies in the report. They also considered that there had been “insufficient consultation with representatives of the county’s main industries” – agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and tourism.

They thought that, while some benefits could be derived from limited developments associated with North Sea oil, more attention should have been focused on assisting and developing existing industries.

Meanwhile, the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) had “declined to buy the famous John O’Groats Hotel” which had been put on the market for the second time in two-and-a-half years.

The hotel was owned by Caithness and Sutherland Hotels Ltd and Lord Mackie of Benshie.

Lord Mackie was giving up his interest in the hotel because of his political commitments.

The HIDB owned other hotels in the Highlands but, despite an approach by local MP Robert Maclennan, had declined to make an offer for the property.

Council officials back Lidl

From the Groat of October 8, 1999

Highland councillors were being advised to give discount supermarket chain Lidl the all-clear to establish a new outlet on the north-west fringe of Thurso.

The plans to demolish the derelict Scapa House to make way for the single-storey store had aroused a storm of protest. But area planning manager Stephen Bell believed there was no reason to oppose the venture, which he maintained would bring significant benefits to local people.

The planning committee was due to have a special meeting in Thurso and before it would be 15 objections to the plan, backed by a 534-signature petition.

Opponents claimed that a third supermarket in the town would badly hit existing, long-established convenience stores and draw trade away from the town centre. They also listed concerns about traffic levels, noise and disturbance.

However, Mr Bell maintained that local traders had taken “an unduly pessimistic view” of trading in the town centre and pointed out that Thurso was performing reasonably well compared with similar-sized towns in Scotland and had “good prospects on the economic front”.

Meanwhile, the Wick-based planning and development service had received an award for promoting the revamped town centre.

The winning team of David Richard-Jones, Lorna Simpson, Jennifer Irvine and Carol Sinclair had been praised for their imaginative portfolio of initiatives for breathing new life into the area.


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