PSO case for Wick John O’Groats Airport takes another step forward
Highland Council has agreed to help fund the creation of a public service obligation for Wick John O'Groats Airport.
Councillor Nicola Sinclair, chair of the Caithness committee, welcomed the decision to earmark £300,000 towards the creation of the PSO.
It came as the local authority agreed its budget for the next financial year.
The money will add to the funding already secured from the Scottish and UK governments.
Councillor Nicola Sinclair said: “I am delighted to see Highland Council agree to fund the public service obligation for Wick John O’Groats Airport.
"We now have multiple funding partners in the form of the Highland Council, Scottish Government and UK government, and work continues in earnest to reinstate services from our airport and mitigate the economic damage caused by the grounding of flights.
“I would like to offer sincere thanks and congratulations to the many stakeholders involved in getting us to this point – particularly the Caithness Chamber of Commerce for their foresight in preparing a business case for the PSO ahead of the loss of services.
“Today marks another big step forward in saving our airport and it’s testament to the power of partnership working for the good of the county."
She added: "The hard work begins now as we seek to put in place a business model that is sustainable and meets the needs of our industry, visitors and local leisure passengers as the world hopefully starts to open up again. There are green shoots of hope and we must grab them wherever we can.”
Leader of the opposition and councillor for Wick and East Caithness, Raymond Bremner said: “Working together, collaboratively, on the Highland Council budget allowed us to put another part of the funding necessary to create a PSO for Wick John O’ Groats Airport in place.
"There are many demands on the budget from all over the Highland area but I’m really glad that the council have supported the welcome funding commitment recently announced in the Scottish Government’s budget.
“This will ensure Caithness’s connectivity supports our community, business and industry and will help protect jobs. It has been a long, hard fight. Our focus now needs to be on the creation of a PSO as quickly as possible.”
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