VIDEO - Action urged on derelict buildings in Wick
COMMUNITY representatives in Wick are to write the Scottish Government to find out how new legislation can help solve the long-time scourge of derelict buildings disfiguring the town.
Wick Community Council is to contact Scottish local government minister Marco Biagi on how the Community Empowerment Act could help regenerate the buildings and the surrounding rundown areas.
Wick has the highest ratio of derelict buildings of any town in the Highlands, with a report from Historic Scotland indicating the royal burgh has 21 properties on the buildings at risk register.
The community council has been told the act does not come with any money, making it unlikely Highland Council would be able to fund any project to take over derelict housing at a time when it is seeking to make savings of £46 million.
Community councillors have bemoaned the eyesores in the town, including the former Dominos nightclub in the High Street and buildings located near Shore Lane
Secretary Nicola Sinclair said she had received concerns from people about the safety risk from the former nightclub.
Highland councillor Bill Fernie said the local authority would not have left the building unattended if it posed a public hazard.
However, he added: “Highland Council will be reluctant to take on a huge budget problem if they don’t have to.”
“I asked officials about it and they said despite the powers of the act, it is not coming with any additional money.
“Any powers that do come will have to be enforced with funds that exist already or from elsewhere.
“If Highland Council spends it on dealing with derelict buildings, it won’t spend it on something else.”
Member Jocky Sutherland said if offshore wind farms are built off the Caithness coast, there may be a chance to obtain funding to address the problem.
“If the offshore wind farms come to fruition, things may change – it will be an economic boost to the town which may provide funding to restore these buildings and they can be used for a purpose.”
