Vote confirms Thurso flood scheme axed – along with Highland schools projects
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A flood prevention scheme in Thurso is among dozens of projects across the Highlands that have been ditched as Highland Council can no longer afford them.
The £1.2 million scheme that was hoped to deal with flooding issues in the town was earmarked for the River Thurso.
But the local authority on Thursday agreed massive cuts to its capital budget, with £127 million of cash for specific projects removed.
The cuts also mean that 10 major school building schemes in the Inverness and Easter Ross areas have been effectively scrapped, along with dozens of other projects across the region as the council looks to save on a huge array of projects in a bid to reduce its budget.
The £4.8 million community and leisure budget for improvements to Inverness Leisure/Aquadome (£2.6 million) and the Eden Court Theatre Redevelopment (£2.2 million) are among the other projects axed.
Roads have lost £6.6 million while the Levelling Up Fund NC500 matching investment of £4 million is ditched.
A blistering review stated “rising capital costs and inflation” saw the cost of the capital programme rise from £475 million in March to £566 million in July yet the council can only afford £343 million over the next five years.
Despite that councillors were balloted on an amendment put forward by the Liberal Democrat opposition leader Alasdair Christie who argued for more time to explore options rather than formally wipe out the investment plans.
But it was defeated when members voted 35 for the new five-year capital budget plan, 28 for Councillor Christie’s amendment, while four members abstained – effectively marking the end of the projects for the foreseeable future.
Council leader Raymond Bremner said the local authority will continue to face challenges on its capital investment but stressed it was necessary to agree £343m of general fund capital investment over 2024/25 to 2028/29 "to fund a number of priorities, while remaining affordable".
