Nwicker60
04-Jan-12, 17:53
Caithness Courier review: January 4, 2012
THE paper leads with the positive New Year news that a failed controversial heating scheme is set to be given a second chance after attracting sufficient support. Residents in Wick, connected to the Caithness Heat and Power scheme, had until Hogmanay to decide between having a traditional system reinstated by the local authority or signing up to Ignis Energy’s plans for affordable heating using CHaP equipment. Ignis director Craig Ibbetson needed enough support from local householders to ensure that the project was viable. He told the Caithness Courier that the demand was there, and the transition of power from Highland Council to Ignis, was good to go. He said: “We have sufficient contracts to be able to continue operating the scheme at the end of April. We’re very pleased about this. Mr Ibbetson would not reveal how many of the 246 tenants connect to the CHaP system had signed up to the new contract, but said that of the respondents, around nine out of 10 had opted to Ignis.
ALSO on the front page...two people were arrested in connection with drink-driving offences in Caithness over the festive period. One person was apprehended following an accident between Christmas and New Year, while another landed in trouble on January 1, according to police. Wick-based sergeant, Donald Macdonald, told the Courier that the figure is up on last year when there were no arrests in the Far North for drink-driving offences. He said: “Two is two too many, but unfortunately some drivers take chances”.
AROUND 3000 people took in the New Year at the Thurso street party. The event went “very well” according to HIT spokesman Graeme Dunnett. He said : “We had about the same number of people as last year. The weather was fine, everybody behaved and there were no issues whatsoever.” He added: “There were quite a few things on in the town on Hogmanay and I think a lot of people spent some time in the pubs and then came along to the street party.” Around £1,800 was raised in collections during the event-up £300 on last year’s total.
THE impact of freedom of information has been hailed by Highland MSPs as the region’s local authority prepares to receive the 5000th enquiry since the legislation came into effect. FoI, requests for information held by Highland Council, have rocketed in recent years and 1017 enquiries were made in 2011, compared to only 395 in 2005 when the law allowing access to information recorded by public organisations, was introduced. The council is now only 12 more requests away from receiving a total of 5000 which have come from a variety of sources including local residents, campaign groups, the media politicians and the private sector.
WHETHER the goal is to get fit, lose weight, meet new people or do something adventurous in 2012, Marie Curie Cancer Care is offering everyone challenges to fulfil those common New Year resolutions. The charity has launched its programme of events for the coming year, giving people in the Highlands, everything from runs, treks, triathlons and cycle rides to swimming, walking and dancing. The charity is running events all year round from marathons to local fun runs, including the Loch Ness Marathon, on September 30.
CAITHNESS was affected by the severe storms which struck many parts of Scotland last week. Local weather watcher, Keith Banks, recorded gusts of 70 mph in Wick, last Wednesday. He said the worst of the winds occurred in the evening as the very deep low responsible, swept past the Northern isles.
A WEDDING at the Castle of Mey on Hogmanay was a dream come true for a Thurso bride. Lesley Sinclair took Stewart Campbell’s hand in marriage at the historic castle, the late Queen Mother’s former holiday residence, on the last day of 2011. The fairy-tale wedding had a unique royal twist as 29 years ago, Her Majesty was at Lesley’s christening in Thurso West Church of Scotland. In October 1982, while on a trip to Caithness, the Queen Mother visited the church and came across the ceremony for Lesley who was four months old at the time.
AN award-winning Edinburgh hairdresser, whose father was born and bred in Wick, has been named in the Queen’s New Year 2012 list. In recognition for services to the industry, hairdressing guru, Charlie Miller has received an OBE. His father Phineas Miller was brought up in Wick before settling in Edinburgh after the Second World War.
TWO of the country’s top chefs will be heading for Caithness later next month to take part in the county’s most renowned food event. Philip Howard and Robert Weston will be headlining the weekend-long 11th Food of Love at Ackergill Tower in February. The tower has a new manager, Jeanette Montgomery from Glasgow.
THE Scorries lost out on an opportunity to capitalise in the second match of the festive double header against Brora Rangers, which was cancelled on Friday, due to a waterlogged pitch. They had already picked up a 2-1 win at Dudgeon Park just before Christmas. Kirkwood is as keen as ever to take the team up the league and his first commitment is to maintain the squad skill level.
THE paper leads with the positive New Year news that a failed controversial heating scheme is set to be given a second chance after attracting sufficient support. Residents in Wick, connected to the Caithness Heat and Power scheme, had until Hogmanay to decide between having a traditional system reinstated by the local authority or signing up to Ignis Energy’s plans for affordable heating using CHaP equipment. Ignis director Craig Ibbetson needed enough support from local householders to ensure that the project was viable. He told the Caithness Courier that the demand was there, and the transition of power from Highland Council to Ignis, was good to go. He said: “We have sufficient contracts to be able to continue operating the scheme at the end of April. We’re very pleased about this. Mr Ibbetson would not reveal how many of the 246 tenants connect to the CHaP system had signed up to the new contract, but said that of the respondents, around nine out of 10 had opted to Ignis.
ALSO on the front page...two people were arrested in connection with drink-driving offences in Caithness over the festive period. One person was apprehended following an accident between Christmas and New Year, while another landed in trouble on January 1, according to police. Wick-based sergeant, Donald Macdonald, told the Courier that the figure is up on last year when there were no arrests in the Far North for drink-driving offences. He said: “Two is two too many, but unfortunately some drivers take chances”.
AROUND 3000 people took in the New Year at the Thurso street party. The event went “very well” according to HIT spokesman Graeme Dunnett. He said : “We had about the same number of people as last year. The weather was fine, everybody behaved and there were no issues whatsoever.” He added: “There were quite a few things on in the town on Hogmanay and I think a lot of people spent some time in the pubs and then came along to the street party.” Around £1,800 was raised in collections during the event-up £300 on last year’s total.
THE impact of freedom of information has been hailed by Highland MSPs as the region’s local authority prepares to receive the 5000th enquiry since the legislation came into effect. FoI, requests for information held by Highland Council, have rocketed in recent years and 1017 enquiries were made in 2011, compared to only 395 in 2005 when the law allowing access to information recorded by public organisations, was introduced. The council is now only 12 more requests away from receiving a total of 5000 which have come from a variety of sources including local residents, campaign groups, the media politicians and the private sector.
WHETHER the goal is to get fit, lose weight, meet new people or do something adventurous in 2012, Marie Curie Cancer Care is offering everyone challenges to fulfil those common New Year resolutions. The charity has launched its programme of events for the coming year, giving people in the Highlands, everything from runs, treks, triathlons and cycle rides to swimming, walking and dancing. The charity is running events all year round from marathons to local fun runs, including the Loch Ness Marathon, on September 30.
CAITHNESS was affected by the severe storms which struck many parts of Scotland last week. Local weather watcher, Keith Banks, recorded gusts of 70 mph in Wick, last Wednesday. He said the worst of the winds occurred in the evening as the very deep low responsible, swept past the Northern isles.
A WEDDING at the Castle of Mey on Hogmanay was a dream come true for a Thurso bride. Lesley Sinclair took Stewart Campbell’s hand in marriage at the historic castle, the late Queen Mother’s former holiday residence, on the last day of 2011. The fairy-tale wedding had a unique royal twist as 29 years ago, Her Majesty was at Lesley’s christening in Thurso West Church of Scotland. In October 1982, while on a trip to Caithness, the Queen Mother visited the church and came across the ceremony for Lesley who was four months old at the time.
AN award-winning Edinburgh hairdresser, whose father was born and bred in Wick, has been named in the Queen’s New Year 2012 list. In recognition for services to the industry, hairdressing guru, Charlie Miller has received an OBE. His father Phineas Miller was brought up in Wick before settling in Edinburgh after the Second World War.
TWO of the country’s top chefs will be heading for Caithness later next month to take part in the county’s most renowned food event. Philip Howard and Robert Weston will be headlining the weekend-long 11th Food of Love at Ackergill Tower in February. The tower has a new manager, Jeanette Montgomery from Glasgow.
THE Scorries lost out on an opportunity to capitalise in the second match of the festive double header against Brora Rangers, which was cancelled on Friday, due to a waterlogged pitch. They had already picked up a 2-1 win at Dudgeon Park just before Christmas. Kirkwood is as keen as ever to take the team up the league and his first commitment is to maintain the squad skill level.