Wick airport hours cutback slammed
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THE decision to close Wick Airport for part of Friday morning and all day Saturday was slammed as "absolutely pathetic" by a Caithness councillor this week.
Thurso Highland Councillor John Rosie hit out at the first meeting of the new area committee for Caithness and Sutherland on Monday.
"What is happening at Wick Airport is absolutely pathetic and is an extremely serious disadvantage to the area. It is sad and should not be allowed to last a minute longer. If the Pentland Firth is going to be the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy then we have to have the infrastructure," said Mr Rosie.
He argued that successive governments and councils have failed to tackle the issue and felt the area has "a wonderful opportunity" to review the situation given the interest in renewable energy in the far north.
Wick member Gail Ross said she has had representations from businesses, Caithness Chamber of Commerce and Far North Aviation.
"This is a really important issue as we need a fully functioning airport at Wick. Two helicopters wanted to get in on Saturday to refuel but could not do so. This sends out the wrong message," said Mrs Ross who said the decision to cut back the opening hours arose due to staff shortages. Attempts are being made to recruit another air traffic controller, she said.
The councillors hit out when a progress report from Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership was being discussed.
It reviewed its activities since being formed in 2007 and set out its priorities in the coming years, which included the development of Wick Airport. It also mentioned the importance of the quality and speed of the area’s digital connections – something which concerned Wick Councillor Bill Fernie.
He said some companies feel the facilities are not adequate to enable them to run their businesses. "We are always playing catch up and don’t seem to want to leap ahead," he stated.
Mr Fernie claimed that internet speeds are "very poor" and noted that the Scottish Government has recently made funding available to help the situation.
He believed the north should get "a huge share" of the £120 million. Mr Fernie also felt the Partnership should open up its meetings to the public.
Thurso Councillor Roger Saxon mentioned "the huge investment" being made at Scrabster harbour and the jobs being supported but argued the area needs to do more and capitalise on the skills it has.
Partnership programme manager Eann Sinclair said a business development plan for Wick Airport is under way and said the opening hours is "on the agenda."
He said the airport has increased passenger numbers and seen a rise in non-scheduled traffic such as oil and gas. The amount of investment in the far north from schools to Scrabster harbour, North Highland College and John O’Groats was also emphasised, as was the need to improve Berriedale Braes.
Mr Sinclair said a plan to deliver superfast broadband for the Highlands and Islands will be concluded this month.
"This will provide a significant boost for existing businesses and will help attract new businesses to locate in the area. High speed broadband is also part of the package of support for the Scrabster enterprise area," he added.
Mr Sinclair explained that the Partnership’s focus over the next two years is on investments to support the creation of more employment opportunities, particularly in the sectors such as energy – marine and offshore renewables, oil and gas – and business services.
The Partnership wants to support between 200 and 410 jobs in the area by March 2014.
They include:
? The creation or retention of between 100 and 185 full-time jobs in the energy sector.
? 40-90 full-time jobs in the business services sector.
? 25-50 full-time jobs in the tourism sector.
? 5-20 full-time jobs in the food and drink sector
? 30-60 full-time jobs in other sectors.
