Thurso community council ask about development of site near new Premier Inn
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The new multimillion-pound Premier Inn hotel in Thurso is due to open next month – but what is happening with plans to develop the rest of the former auction mart site?
That is the question which was raised at the most recent virtual meeting of the town's community council.
Bert Macleod said: "The hotel is nearly completed and looks very nice but what is going to go in the rest of the site?"
He pointed out there had been talk of a garden centre being located there while other members said options included a café and a drive-through takeaway, although it was stressed that was prior to the pandemic.
Innes Morgan said it would be good to find potential tenants for the remainder of the site while chairman, Ron Gunn, suggested "keeping an eye" on what is happening there.
Earlier this year, Whitbread, which owns the Premier Inn chain, stated it hopes to open its new 85-bedroom Thurso hotel next month.
Richard Aldread, the company's head of construction for the UK regions, said everything was on track for a May opening. "We’re expecting high demand for staycations and short breaks. We predict the hotel will trade well across all four seasons and will provide a new style of accommodation to visitors," he said.
Mr Aldread said the natural beauty of the area and the popularity of the North Coast 500 should ensure the venture is a success.
The Thurso hotel is expected to create around 30 jobs and is one of three developments earmarked by the company in Scotland as part of a £5.5 million investment plan.
Work on the hotel got under way in July 2019 and was expected to take about a year to complete but was halted due to the coronavirus lockdown. It is hoped the hotel will be a catalyst for further development at the site.
Later, the community council agreed to provide a letter of support to Thurso Youth Club which is looking for funding to instal a new kitchen at the premises.
Members also heard that the Thurso Angling Association has donated three benches for use in the Millbank area of the town.
Meanwhile, Innes Morgan was congratulated on becoming the chairman of the Highland Youth Parliament.
"That is excellent," Gill Arrowsmith said, a sentiment shared by her fellow community councillors.
The Highland Youth Parliament has over 100 elected members from schools and youth forums across the area. It helps provide a voice for young people in the north and engages them in decision-making processes which affect their lives.
