New Rumster centre plea
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THE public is being asked to lend its support to plans to re-establish a centre at Rumster.
An open day is being held this weekend and members of the Rumster Outdoor Centre Management Group hopes that people will give their backing to the project.
The centre, which was originally opened in 1971, was a four-bedroomed facility which could accommodate 24 people and was used by a variety of local groups. The Highland Council closed it in 1998 and it burned down in 2006.
The group is now considering a number of options in a bid to reinstate the building.
Secretary Brian Lavery said that reopening the facility would be beneficial to the county. “Since the centre closed down 13 years ago, a number of groups have been looking at the need for a residential facility for people in Caithness to use,” he said. “Our group has had an idea of opening a residential centre designed to teach the heritage of Caithness.
“A lot of the schools and youth clubs have missed that kind of facility.
“Local youth groups still use the site to learn about the countryside. But we feel that if there was a residential facility there it would be greatly used.”
The group is currently looking at ways of raising funds for a residential building which could cater for 16 people. It is also proposed that the centre could accommodate a camp site for tents and caravans.
Mr Lavery said that the group is in the early stages of planning and nothing has been set in concrete. However, it would like members of the public to come to the open day and offer their ideas for the site.
“Rumster still remains a good site,” he said. “It’s remote enough but still close to home. We feel it is important to make the most of a site like this in Caithness. What we are doing is trying to look at ways we can raise funds for this facility.”
He added: “A number of youth groups would like to use this site for that sort of exercise and adults are increasingly using the countryside and we want to provide courses and information at the centre about the local environment.
“We really want to offer the residential aspect. It is an important part of the curriculum of excellence that young people learn about living and residing with one another.”
There are currently 20 people in the group and they are desperately looking for more support. Their vision is to build a centre that is self-supporting and create employment opportunities
Mr Lavery said the group would like to transform barns on the site into accommodation. However, the group needs permission from the Forestry Commission and that requires support from the public.
“We know that a centre would be used but we have to prove to the funders that this is what the people in Caithness want,” he explained. “We have so many ideas but we want to ensure that people want to use it.
“Getting money is one thing but we need to convince people how it would be financially viable.”
Rumster Outdoor Centre Management Group hold the open day on Saturday, June 11, at the site of the former centre, to tell the public about its plans.
Attractions on the day will include archery, mountain biking, mountain rescue demonstrations and storytelling. The event will take place between noon and 4pm.
To book a place e-mail ajalison.kirk@virgin.net
