Thurso beach hut is 'becoming a dangerous building,' says community councillor
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A REDUNDANT hut at Thurso beach is "becoming a dangerous building," according to a local community councillor.
Elspeth Husband said the condition of former Pentland Canoe Club premises is getting worse due to the lack of progress in getting it demolished.
She pointed out that approval and funding for the work has been obtained but nothing seems to happen about getting it knocked down.
"We keep asking about this hut and when it is going to disappear as it is becoming a dangerous building," she said at last week's Thurso Community Council meeting.
Billy Sinclair also expressed concern. "We originally heard that it would cost £30,000 to demolish it but it is just not happening," he stated.
Former community councillor, Alexander Glasgow, who was at the meeting, said one of the reasons for the delay could be that so much work has to be done to "get rid of the concrete platform there."
Last month Thurso Highland councillor, Ron Gunn, hit out at the "unbelievable" amount of time it was taking to demolish the hut.
He said Highland Council assured him it was "going through the different stages."
"It’s not a big job so why they’re dragging their feet, I don’t know," said councillor Gunn.
Pentland Canoe Club was forced to evacuate its long-time base in January last year following a storm which undermined a section of the concrete walkway on the town’s esplanade adjoining the hut. The club has now relocated its base to Scrabster.
It is understood a contract was awarded in May and work was due to get underway at the start of June.
Later, Mrs Husband wondered when the public toilets at the Riverside will re-open. They have been closed following a spate of vandalism.
"We are into the tourist season and have no toilet facilities other the the ones at the harbour. It is a human right to be able to to go a toilet," she said.
Her community council colleague, Louise Smith, who is disabled, said it is important the public have access to toilets. "It is a huge issue for people like me," she commented.
John Deighan, who was at the meeting, claimed it is difficult to get volunteers to open and close the toilets.
Marlene MacDonald said Highland Council provided money to hotels as part of a Comfort Scheme to allow the public to use their facilities.
It was also pointed out that people can use the toilets in the North Coast Visitor Centre or Tesco store.
