Thurso eyesore building bid under the microscope
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A PUBLIC inquiry is to be held in Thurso next week into controversial plans by the Highland Council to make a compulsory purchase of a 19th-century building in the town.
The local authority wants to take over the B-listed property at the corner of Princes Street and Sir John’s Square amid claims it has been allowed to fall into disrepair.
It is not clear who owns the building but a Highland Council document dating from 2005 stated that a legal search indicated Chaudry Rafiq and Kamal Ahmed jointly owned the property.
According to Scottish Government records, Mr Rafiq, now deceased, owns the part of the property on Sir John’s Square while Mr Ahmed owns the Princes Street part.
The building has been unused for some time and has been the subject of a lengthy wrangle between the owner and the council.
The inquiry is to take place in the Pentland Hotel.
It will get under way on Tuesday and is expected to be completed by Wednesday. Katrina Rice has been appointed to hold the inquiry and she will report back to the Scottish Government.
Local historian Alan McIvor, who is the chairman of the Thurso Heritage Society, felt the building may be beyond saving.
"I personally feel that it is in such a poor state it may be beyond conservation," he told the John O’Groat Journal.
"It could be there is no other option structurally but to demolish it. It is a shame that it has been left to get into the condition that it is – and that is something that applies to other buildings in the town."
He pointed out there are properties dating from that era in Traill Street and Princes Street which are still in use.
Thurso Highland councillor Donnie Mackay urged the public to attend the inquiry and let their views be known.
The house was constructed about 1802 and was one of the first to be built under Sir John Sinclair’s new town plans.
Around 1910, Major Manson acquired the property. His father, George Manson, who came from Murkle, was responsible for the construction of Thurso Railway Station, the town hall and the Free Church.
During the Second World War, survivors of the HMS Royal Oak were billeted in the house for a time.
Major Manson’s son Patrick (Patty) owned an optician’s shop in the town and was a founder member of the Thurso Club in Janet Street.
Attempts by the Groat to contact Mr Ahmed were not successful.
