Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Halkirk well grievance
From the Groat of April 20, 1923
For "several weeks past, the people of Halkirk have been labouring under a serious inconvenience in consequence of the village pump being in such a state of disrepair as to prevent the people drawing necessary supplies of water for domestic purposes", it was reported.
Writing to Mr W Brims, solicitor, clerk to the heritors, Hugh Taylor said that the pump being out of order was a "serious matter" and if it was not repaired "at once" then the villagers would have no option but to remove the flagstone covering the well and leave it open so that the "people may draw water".
Mr Brims replied that he would take instructions from the heritors "at their first meeting on the subject". However, he added that it seemed only fair that those who had caused the damage should pay for the repairs and even for the users of the pump to pay for the upkeep.
He warned against removing the flagstone as this would cause the water to become contaminated. Any attempt to do so, he said, would result in "consequences visited upon the parties responsible".
Mr Taylor was not impressed with this reply and in another letter asked if the people were to be deprived of water "until it is convenient for you to call a meeting".
He stated that the heritors would be "much annoyed if they knew the plight the people are in for water" and he pledged to bring the matter up with Sir Archibald Sinclair, the principal heritor.
Social centre for old folks
From the Groat of April 20, 1973
A social centre in the burgh of Wick which could be used by old folk during the winter months had been proposed to Wick Town Council by members of the town improvements association, who had in mind the pavilion in Rosebank Playing Fields.
The matter was discussed by the council's administration committee and the majority of members took the view, as expressed by burgh surveyor Alex Begg, that the pavilion would not be suitable.
Instead councillors decided to investigate the use of the Assembly Rooms for such a purpose.
Mr Begg said that the pavilion was not a suitable venue for a social club in the winter months but all agreed that the proposal for a social centre was a good one.
Mr A B Henderson said: "If anybody needs such facilities it is the old people. We should not drop it but let us go into the matter."
Elsewhere, a rally was to be held in Thurso in support of the proposed Dunnet Bay oil-rig project and to publicise the need for more jobs in Caithness.
Marchers were to set out from the boating pond at Millbank, heading for the town hall where they were to lobby participants in the Dunnet Bay public inquiry.
The rally, which was open to members of the public who wished to lend their support, had been organised jointly by the trades councils of Wick and Thurso.
Community lead for Ormlie
From the Groat of April 24, 1998
Any improvements to a housing scheme labelled the poorest in Caithness "must be led by the community and not the Highland Council", the local authority had been told.
Local councillors agreed to support a move to rid High Ormlie of its urban deprivation status but there was a warning that the "effort involved must not be at the expense of other parts of Caithness".
At their latest meeting, members of the Caithness Area Committee heard details of a working group set up by the council, Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise, Highland Health Board, Caithness Voluntary Group and Ormlie Community Association.
It had been created after the reformed community association had appealed to the council to revive its proposals for an urban regeneration strategy for the area.
Two years previously the council had been unsuccessful in its bid for government funding to hire an urban regeneration project officer.
Councillors agreed that a council house be made available for conversion to a community facility after hearing that this was common practice elsewhere.
Local councillor Elizabeth MacDonald said that the housing in the estate was generally in a good condition but the play areas "are in a poor state and completely inadequate considering the number of young people in Ormlie".
The community association wanted to set up a home zone, a continental traffic system whereby pedestrians had priority over cars, and Councillor Macdonald said this was understandable as youngsters played in the streets because the gardens were so small.
