Thurso and Halkirk need leisure centre investment
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New leisure facilities in Thurso and Halkirk are among a raft of investments needed in Caithness, according to Highland Council.
The local authority says that Caithness and Sutherland will need more than £13.3 million worth of infrastructure to keep pace with new home building developments.
There are 1550 homes set to be built or already under way across the north Highlands.
In its latest update to its delivery programme, which underpins the Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan (CaSPlan), the council sets out it plans for the future delivery of services in the area.
While the plan does not provide specific funding for projects, Highland Council makes clear that the delivery programme will be used as a template to determine where investment will go in the coming years.
The largest housing developments by volume are typically in the largest towns – Wick is allocated 307, Thurso 363 and Dornoch 310.
Other areas with lower populations have also been allocated space for housing that will significantly increase their populations, including Castletown with 119 new homes.
With the expected increased demand on services, the council has identified a number of areas where investment is needed.
Halkirk could get another 63 homes, so it is thought that the area needs a new sports and leisure centre including an indoor sports pitch, gym and leisure suite costing £1.5 million.
Meanwhile, a £2 million Thurso Community Sports Hub with a new six-lane running track and indoor sports hall is mooted.
A Thurso distributor/relief road could open up new land for development and better connect communities and places of work, while in Wick it says the High School will require a major extension to deal with capacity issues – with £500,000 already committed.
