Reopening of Caithness Horizons set to be affected
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THE planned reopening of Caithness Horizons in Thurso will almost certainly be affected by the measures being taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
High Life Highland, which was due to take over the running of the facility, announced last week it was closing all archive centres, libraries, leisure centres, museums and swimming pools across the region.
Thurso councillor Struan Mackie said: "Given that the Highland Council and High Life Highland’s priorities will now be focused on the response to Covid-19 and continuing to provide statutory services, I would not be surprised if the opening of the facility is delayed.
"We all wish the reopening of Horizons to be a success, and having Horizons back in public use would be a welcome development for the county and the wider far north.
"Right across the public sector the priority is dealing with Covid-19 and ensuring that resources are directed at helping the most vulnerable. I believe this is absolutely the right thing to do at this time."
A spokesperson for High Life Highland said: "We are dealing with an unprecedented situation due to the Covid-19 outbreak. There is no update on Caithness Horizons at the present time."
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: "We are unable to provide a response regarding progress on Caithness Horizons at present. It is no longer business as usual in Highland Council and we are unable to provide more detail at this point in time.
Major work has been carried out at Horizons with the aim of getting the facility open in time for the tourist season. The museum and gallery closed with the loss of seven jobs last February after encountering financial problems.
Last year, the local authority provided funding of more than £400,000 to enable the centre 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".
Councillors made their decision after being warned the National Lottery could try to get a grant of almost £1 million reimbursed if it remained closed.
