Major work carried out at Caithness Horizons ahead of tourist season
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MAJOR work has been carried out at Caithness Horizons with the aim of getting the facility open in time for the new tourist season.
An update was given this week by Highland Council, which is responsible for the museum and gallery that closed with the loss of seven jobs last February after encountering financial problems.
The building in Thurso town centre is due to be taken over by High Life Highland, which delivers leisure services and community learning on behalf of the council, although it is understood arrangements have yet to be finalised.
Extensive repairs and maintenance have been undertaken at the premises but there is further work still to be done.
A spokeswoman for the local authority said: "Major elements of works now completed include making the building fabric wind and watertight, the replacement of the boiler, repairs to heating and ventilation equipment and repairs to fire alarms. Finalisation of electrical system repairs and inspection, repair and commissioning of the water system are the main aspects still to be finished."
She added: "We recognise the importance of concluding these works as soon as possible as we know High Life Highland will be keen to get access as early as possible so they can be set up and prepared for the new season."
On a claim about a lack of heating, a smell of dampness and a lot of dust in the building, she said: "The boiler would have been off for repair but it is operational now – dust will be expected during works of this kind and the building will be thoroughly cleaned once works in sections of the premises are completed and again at the end of all works."
A spokesperson for High Life Highland said: “We are looking forward to confirmation of the works being completed so that we can progress with preparations to set up for the new season.”
Last year, the local authority provided funding of more than £400,000 to enable the facility to reopen. Councillors backed plans to give £75,000 over each of the next three years and allocated capital investment of up to £204,000 for urgent building works. The money was granted in April 2019 to give Horizons "a fresh start".
The councillors made their decision after being warned the National Lottery could try and get a grant of almost £1 million reimbursed if it remained closed.
