Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
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Welcome news for ratepayers
From the Groat of August 3, 1923
Wick Parish Council was praised in the Groat's leader column for its efforts to reduce the rates burden for the townspeople.
Despite "circumstances decidedly adverse" the council had succeeded in managing matters so as to be "able to afford a reduction in assessments for the current year of 6d for £1 – 2d on owners and 4d on occupiers".
It was stated that "in these days of high rates and taxes this will be a welcome piece of news within the town and parish (including Keiss) and the council is deserving of compliment and congratulation accordingly. The parish council is a body which works without fuss or ostentation – often, though not always, an indication that the public interests are being carefully and fairly considered."
However, it was noted that no reduction had been possible on the "education rate" in consequence of the large sum (£6174) "demanded for the current year by the education authority".
As a result, the parish council had "felt constrained to pass a motion protesting against the heavy burden which the authority are laying upon the ratepayers".
The complaint was common at councils throughout the country due to the regulations of a new act, prompting the Groat to state that "the necessity for more economical administration is urgent and should be seriously taken in hand".
Craft shop go-ahead
From the Groat of August 3, 1973
Members of Caithness County Council had granted planning permission to Walter Mowat for the building of a craft shop and ferry waiting room facilities at John O'Groats.
The application had already been passed by the county planning committee but had met with strong opposition at a meeting of the county council, whose members, before approving the planning committee's recommendation, decided to inspect the site.
Objections to the plan centred around fears the new building would interfere with access to the pier, a concern expressed on behalf of local fishermen.
Despite a motion from Malcolm Green, John O'Groats, that the application be refused, the plan was given the go-ahead following a 15 to nine vote in its favour.
Elsewhere, Donald Sutherland, farm manager at Buckies Farm, had been presented with a long-service award.
Mr Sutherland had completed almost 51 years on Buckies, where he was born, starting as an "orra boy".
His father, John, a native of Thurso district, had also received an award when he had completed 30 years' service at the same farm where he had begun working in 1901.
Father and son between them had over 80 years' association with the farm.
Cinema plan funding boost
From the Groat of August 7, 1998
The owners of the Viking Bowl in Thurso had been awarded £450,000 of lottery funding towards the construction of a two-screen cinema extension.
After a two-year delay while its application was vetted, Thor Leisure said the grant from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund would enable work to begin later in the year. Up to 15 new jobs were expected to be created in a project valued at £1.2 million.
The company was also seeking funding from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise.
The Viking Bowl had opened in 1994 in the former Templeman glove factory at Ormlie Industrial Estate and contained a six-lane bowling alley, bar, restaurant and games room.
As part of the upgrade the facade was to be redesigned, with vacant workshop units and the post office engineering workshop at the rear of the building being taken over to create the 155-seat and 85-seat auditoriums.
Elsewhere, it was reported that there had been a "dramatic drop" in the number of tourists visiting Thurso.
According to Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board figures, the town had seen a reduction of 29 per cent in visitors, compared with a drop of five per cent in Wick.
Poor weather was being blamed for the fall, as was the strong pound, which made holidaying in Britain more expensive for foreign tourists.
