Thurso's former canoe club hut demolished after concerns over coastal erosion
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Work has begun on a £26,000 scheme to demolish a redundant watersports facility at Thurso beach and improve the surrounding area.
Highland Council said the first phase of work had gone well as contractors moved in to knock down the former Pentland Canoe Club premises, originally a changing facility for bathers which opened 74 years ago.
Concerns had been raised locally about a lack of progress on demolition, and last week a Thurso community councillor warned that the hut was "becoming a dangerous building".
Pentland Canoe Club was forced to evacuate its former base in January last year following a storm which undermined a section of the concrete walkway on the esplanade adjoining the hut. The club has now relocated to Scrabster.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The project scope was to demolish the dilapidated and redundant shed on the esplanade and make good the area, carry out repairs to the damaged concrete lower slipway and install rock armour to the affected area to help prevent future erosion at this point of the beach.
“Various issues including community agreement, legal ownership, working within marine environment, asbestos checks, competitive tendering process and demolition warrant application have added a significant delay since to the original damage in January 2022.
“The initial budget for the job was £35,000, but together with Highland Council design consultancy fees the project has come in at £26,000. Works began today [Monday] with the first phase, which is the demolition of the shed, and it appears to have gone well.”
In May, Highland councillor Ron Gunn (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) had voiced his frustration over the time being taken to get rid of the building.
He told a meeting of the town's community council: "I've been banging my head against the wall to get the hut demolished. It's unbelievable the speed Highland Council has been moving on it."
This week, Councillor Gunn pointed out that the property had been leased from Highland Council by the canoe club for many years, but following a number of destructive storms it was damaged beyond repair. In addition, the area had been experiencing coastal erosion and as a result the hut had become "uninsurable" and was declared unusable.
The lease was terminated in January 2022 and shortly after that the decision was made to demolish it.
He pointed out that there was a lengthy delay over establishing ownership of the area, although the local authority did erect fencing. Eventually the ownership issue was overcome and funding was agreed.
Councillor Gunn said: “Unfortunately the building had to be demolished and I’m sure many of the older generation will have fond memories of it as the bathing coaches.
"The property had many safety-related problems that could not be repaired, plus the immediate surrounding area became unsafe.
"There were several lengthy delays in getting to the point of demolition and local folk were rightly asking what was happening. I was also questioning the delay with council officials, but thankfully the contractor has arrived to do the job.”
Highland councillor Matthew Reiss said: "I am delighted to see this building being cleared away.”
At last week's Thurso Community Council meeting, community councillor Elspeth Husband had warned: "We keep asking about this hut and when it is going to disappear as it is becoming a dangerous building."
Alan McIvor, of Thurso Heritage Society, has provided some information on the history of the building.
"Around 1947, the Thurso Town Improvements Association committee began looking into raising funds to replace the previous bathing facilities, which were wooden bathing coaches," he said. "Donations for the coaches came from various sources, including the former Thurso Swimming Association, which donated £140.
"The town council requested tenders for laying a concrete strip from the ramp halfway along the esplanade to the proposed coaches measuring nine feet in width. This allowed people with prams and the elderly easier access.
"The big day came in 1949, when Provost John Sinclair officially opened and accepted the gift of the building on behalf of Thurso Town Council."
