Looking Back – news from the John O'Groat Journal of yesteryear
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Whooping cough in Thurso
From the Groat of March 7, 1924
In the column Topical Thurso Talk, "Clio" highlighted the surprise expressed in the community that burgh schools had not been closed "in view of the serious epidemic of whooping cough that is, unfortunately, prevalent".
The writer explained that the burgh medical officer, Dr Durran, had come in for considerable criticism for his view that to close the schools would do nothing during an epidemic "to arrest its infectious ravages" and that the outbreak would run its course.
This view was "not generally appreciated by parents or teachers".
Clio wrote that "parents incline to the opinion that children confined to the class-rooms with companions who have developed the trouble are likely to be infected, and teachers view with dismay the sharp decline in attendances, which means they will have to go over old ground for the instruction of the absentees when they return".
A certificate from the medical officers was required before the education department would close the schools, but Clio considered that they might as well be shut as "I should not be surprised if the attendance were to decline even further than the present low average, owing to parents deliberately keeping their children from school while the epidemic prevails".
Members of Thurso Parish Council had discussed the epidemic at their latest meeting and had come out in favour of closing the schools.
'Restrictive trend' on development
From the Groat of March 8, 1974
Government planning policy was causing Caithness County Council "grave concern", a hearing in Wick was told.
County clerk Ronald Stevenson was speaking at the inquiry into the proposal to build five holiday homes at Dunbeath.
Mr Stevenson explained that the council had favoured the plan but was concerned about the "restrictive trend" in Scottish Development Department (SDD) planning policy.
The project had been submitted by Winchester Henry, proprietor of the Inver Arms in Dunbeath, and approved by the council. But that decision had been overturned by the SDD on the grounds that it would result in a considerable increase in traffic on a substandard road.
Three other developments on the A9 had been turned down by the Scottish Secretary, noted Caithness County Council vice-convener John Young, "and it appeared the SDD was imposing severe limitations on new projects".
However, the plan had not had overwhelming local support, with objections coming from two county councillors, one of whom, Nigel Gunn, argued that the project was contrary to the county's development plan and an "intrusion into the village amenities".
He said that if the scheme went ahead it would create a precedent "and we could say 'goodbye' to planning in Caithness".
Council in dark over Bignold bid
From the Groat of March 12, 1999
Members of the local community council were keen to find out more information about a plan to lease an area of ground at the Bignold Park for the exclusive use of Wick Academy Football Club.
A discussion on the proposal had been prompted by a letter from local MP Robert Maclennan asking Wick Community Council what it knew about the proposal as he was looking into the matter following concern expressed by a constituent.
Members soon realised that they knew very little about the approach by the football club to the area committee of Highland Council.
They were uncertain what area of ground was involved, whether the club intended to erect a fence or lighting, what other park users the move would affect, and "whether Highland Council was at liberty to lease the ground given that it had been donated to the town".
The matter had previously been discussed in private at a meeting of Highland Council's area cultural and leisure services committee in January "when local councillors agreed to enter into negotiations with the club for a peppercorn rent, subject to the approval of the Scottish Office".
Meanwhile, community councillors had turned down a request from Railtrack to display the Royal Burgh of Wick coat of arms at the newly refurbished railway station. They said they were legally unable to allow another organisation to use or display the insignia.
