Wick stalwart quits due to pressure of work
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE former chairwoman of Wick Community Council has stood down from the organisation on which she sat for 11 years.
Coreen Campbell, who served as chair for six years, has not sought re-election.
Mrs Campbell, the co-ordinator for Caithness Rural Transport, has cited “pressure of work commitments” for her decision although she did not rule out a return at some point in the future.
“I will miss the community council. We did a lot over the years but the pressure of work commitments was the key factor in my decision,” she said.
Mrs Campbell was pleased that enough people have came forward to ensure the survival of the community council although she thought there would have been “a better turnout” – just nine people stood.
“There is quite a lot going on in the town at the moment and I would have hoped that more people would have put their names forward. It is a bit disappointing but at least there are enough members to keep the community council and its subgroups going,” she told the Caithness Courier.
Mrs Campbell said it was “a shame” that Bower would have no community council as it had been “going for a long time” but was pleased that 11 out of the 12 local forums would continue to ?function.
As reported in Friday’s John O’Groat Journal, Bower will have no community council for the first time in over 30 years as not enough people showed an interest in becoming members. Former chairman and secretary Alan Roberts felt apathy was to blame.
Although there will be no elections in Caithness, the county will have community councils operating in Berriedale and Dunbeath, Caithness West, Castletown, Dunnet and Canisbay, Halkirk, Latheron, Lybster and Clyth, Sinclair’s Bay, Tannach and District, Thurso, Watten and Wick. Throughout the Highlands a total of 137 out of 156 community councils attracted sufficient interest to continue.
Twenty-five received more nominations than their maximum membership, paving the way for elections by postal vote on November 16.
A total of 112 community councils attracted more than half the maximum membership, allowing them to function from November 16.
The total number of valid nominations was 1065.
However, 19 community councils will not be established as they failed to attract half the maximum membership. They include Bower and Tongue in north Sutherland.
The final picture emerged after at 4pm on Thursday when the deadline for withdrawals passed.
Membership of Caithness community councils
Berriedale and Dunbeath
John Gunn, Strathview House, Dunbeath.
Neil Buchanan, The Village, Dunbeath.
Francis Allan, Llanvoe, Dunbeath.
Sue Steven, Mulberry Croft, East Newport, Berriedale.
Caithness West
Jacqueline Pottinger, Baillie Farm, Westfield.
Ian Grant, Bishop’s Drive, West Gills, Scrabster.
George Carson, The Crescent, Glengolly.
Stewart Milnes, Isauld Lodge, Reay.
Anne Chard, The Old Manse, Shebster.
Castletown
Innes Moodie, Mackay Street, Castletown.
Billy Swanson, Lisowen, Main Street, Castletown.
Liz Geddes, Pentland House, Murrayfield, Castletown.
Alice Hill, Katrins, Sibmister.
Brenda Herrick, Sandmill, Harbour Road, Castletown.
John Calder, Murrayfield, Castletown.
Jennie Gunn, Corner Cottage, Main Street, Castletown.
Dunnet and Canisbay
John Green, Heatherbell Cottages, John O’Groats.
Eric A. Green, Albyn, Gills, Canisbay.
Linda Bingham, Karengall, Skirza, Freswick.
Keith Muir, Houston Drive, Canisbay.
Bill Mowat, The Flat, Seaview Hotel, John O’Groats.
Christopher Hobson, Braeside, Dunnet.
Halkirk
David Sutherland, Sans Peur, Harpsdale, Halkirk.
Gillian Coghill, Balnahard Farm, Harpsdale, Halkirk.
Stuart Mills, Wester House, Westerdale, Halkirk.
David Mackay. Achaguie, Scotscalder, Halkirk.
Peter Blackwood, Craigavon, Halkirk.
William Manson, Valhalla, Sinclair Street, Halkirk.
Linda Levack, Balbeg, Watten.
Latheron, Lybster and Clyth
Tracy Chisholm, The Gates, Mid-Clyth.
David Gunn, Churchhill House, Latheron.
Carol Grant, Swiney Hill, Lybster.
Ian Sinclair, Clyth Mains, Lybster.
James Macgregor, Remiggy, Lybster.
Duncan Winfield, Greymount, Grey’s Place, Lybster.
James Georgeson, Guidibest, Latheron.
Sinclair’s Bay
Colin Mackintosh, Elzy Road, Staxigoe.
Andrew Mackay, Scaraben, South Street, Keiss.
Victoria Mackay, Scaraben, South Street, Keiss.
Wendy McConnachie, The Bungalow, North Keiss.
Tannach and District
Jim Oag Corbiegoe, Thrumster.
Elizabeth Henderson, Old Schoolhouse, Tannach.
Donald Henderson, Old Schoolhouse, Tannach.
Catherine Patterson, Weir Crescent, Milton.
Alice Miller, Stewart Crescent, Thrumster.
Simon Harrison, Mosspark, Bilbster.
Thurso
Jean Lipa, Morton Court, Thurso.
Colin Johnston, Upper Burnside Drive, Thurso.
Bert Macleod, Balimore Place, Thurso.
William Beaton, Dunnet Place, Thurso.
Jeffrey Maclean, St Olaf Road, Thurso.
Mike Potts, George Street, Thurso.
Ian Wright, Park Avenue, Thurso.
Gill Arrowsmith, Mackay Court, Thurso.
Bob Earnshaw, Duncan Street, Thurso.
Alexander Glasgow, Seaforth Road, Thurso.
Don Smith, Brownhill Road, Thurso.
Elspeth Husband, Upper Burnside Drive, Thurso.
Watten
James Macdonald, Fairfield, Banks Road, Watten.
Allyson Sinclair, Bain Place, Watten.
Anne Alexander, Bain Place, Watten.
John Swanson, Bylbster, Watten.
Marilyn Mackenzie, Arantyne, Watten.
Wick
Ruth Black, Seaforth Avenue, Wick.
Janet Banks, Whitehouse Park, Wick.
Doreen Turner, Lamont, Sunbeam Terrace, Wick.
Geraldine Durrand, Gunn’s Terrace, Wick.
Andrew Sinclair, Broadhaven, Wick.
David Dunnett, The Coastguards (Main House), South Head, Wick.
Wendy Campbell, Smith Terrace, Wick.
Joanna Coghill, Windylea, Thurso Road, Wick.
David Stark, Green Road, Wick.
