Nwicker60
02-May-12, 10:07
Caithness Courier review: May 2, 2012
THE family of a motorcyclist, killed in a road accident near Thrumster at the weekend, have said a huge hole has been left in their lives. Brent Larnach, from Clyth, died after his bike collided with a van, a mile south of the village on the A99 Wick-Latheron road. It happened at 3pm on Saturday and the 28-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. His father, Noel Larnach, and stepmother Linda Baker immediately travelled north from their home in Suffolk to comfort Brent’s two sisters and girlfriend. Speaking to the Caithness Courier, Ms Baker said the family had been left heartbroken by Brent’s death.
ALSO on the front page of this week’s paper...a Caithness businessman is to sue the Bank of Scotland for around £10 million after one of his companies went into administration. John Sutherland, who owns Caithness Beef and Lamb, blames the bank for the collapse of the £4m state-of-the art abattoir and meat-processing plant at Keiss. The Bank of Scotland declined to comment on Mr Sutherland’s claims.
THE centre of Castletown looks like “the Gaza Strip” according to a local community councillor. Jenny Gunn made the comparison to the Middle East area fought over by the Palestinians and the Israelis at last Thursday night’s meeting when members were discussing the condition of the site of the former Thomson’s self- service store. The property was taken over by Norscot Joinery which got planning permission to build eight homes there, in 2008. The shop was demolished but nothing further has happened. Responding to the criticism, Peter Body of Norscot stressed the company is committed to the development and would like to see it get under way before planning permission expires next year.
A FORMER supermarket in Wick could be in line for a new lease of life. The one-time Haldanes store in Macleay Lane which has also been home to Presto and Somerfield, is currently under offer. Owners of the 14,205-square-foot retail premises, the Co-operative has had the outlet available to lease since around 20 staff lost their jobs and the Haldanes store was shut suddenly last June. On Monday, the agent responsible for marketing the property, told the Caithness Courier that an offer had been made last week, which was confirmed by a Co-op spokesperson. It is likely to be four to six weeks before confirmation is available, or if the bid to take on the property has been successful.
LESS than 48 hours of campaigning are left as candidates and parties try to convince Highland residents to vote for them in tomorrow’s local government elections. By Friday afternoon, the make-up of the new-look Highland Council, which will service a five-year term, will be known, after the votes are scanned electronically in Inverness in a hi-tech counting process. No party or group of candidates is likely to secure an outright majority because of the proportional representation voting system which is to be used for the second time in council elections. Another rainbow administration to run the local authority is on the cards and several combinations of parties are possible, dependant on results. It is understood the likelihood of the SNP and independents forming an alliance again is slim after the two sides previous coalition which disintegrated in 2008 in acrimonious fashion, only a year after they came together.
PEOPLE in Thurso appreciate their community council but regards members as “old fuddy-duddies”. That was stated by member Gill Arrowsmith at last Tuesday night’s meeting of the town’s communities during a discussion about the role of the organisation. She felt that impression is wrong but is one many people have. Councillor Colin Johnson made the point: “Plenty of people slag us off but they won’t come and join us."
WICK ACADEMY’S dream of playing the Scottish Challenge Cup next season isn’t over yet, according to their manager, despite surrendering a two-goal lead on Saturday. As two of only six teams that have been awarded a Scottish Football Association National Club Licence this year, Wick and Keith are each involved in an end-of-season dash to finish above the other to secure the second qualification spot along with Inverurie Locos, in the challenge cup that begins in July.
AND finally...photographs of the late Queen Mother, which have never been seen by the public, are now on show at her beloved holiday home in Caithness. The Castle of Mey, said to be one of her favourite places, has opened an exhibition of images of her time in Caithness, to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
THE family of a motorcyclist, killed in a road accident near Thrumster at the weekend, have said a huge hole has been left in their lives. Brent Larnach, from Clyth, died after his bike collided with a van, a mile south of the village on the A99 Wick-Latheron road. It happened at 3pm on Saturday and the 28-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. His father, Noel Larnach, and stepmother Linda Baker immediately travelled north from their home in Suffolk to comfort Brent’s two sisters and girlfriend. Speaking to the Caithness Courier, Ms Baker said the family had been left heartbroken by Brent’s death.
ALSO on the front page of this week’s paper...a Caithness businessman is to sue the Bank of Scotland for around £10 million after one of his companies went into administration. John Sutherland, who owns Caithness Beef and Lamb, blames the bank for the collapse of the £4m state-of-the art abattoir and meat-processing plant at Keiss. The Bank of Scotland declined to comment on Mr Sutherland’s claims.
THE centre of Castletown looks like “the Gaza Strip” according to a local community councillor. Jenny Gunn made the comparison to the Middle East area fought over by the Palestinians and the Israelis at last Thursday night’s meeting when members were discussing the condition of the site of the former Thomson’s self- service store. The property was taken over by Norscot Joinery which got planning permission to build eight homes there, in 2008. The shop was demolished but nothing further has happened. Responding to the criticism, Peter Body of Norscot stressed the company is committed to the development and would like to see it get under way before planning permission expires next year.
A FORMER supermarket in Wick could be in line for a new lease of life. The one-time Haldanes store in Macleay Lane which has also been home to Presto and Somerfield, is currently under offer. Owners of the 14,205-square-foot retail premises, the Co-operative has had the outlet available to lease since around 20 staff lost their jobs and the Haldanes store was shut suddenly last June. On Monday, the agent responsible for marketing the property, told the Caithness Courier that an offer had been made last week, which was confirmed by a Co-op spokesperson. It is likely to be four to six weeks before confirmation is available, or if the bid to take on the property has been successful.
LESS than 48 hours of campaigning are left as candidates and parties try to convince Highland residents to vote for them in tomorrow’s local government elections. By Friday afternoon, the make-up of the new-look Highland Council, which will service a five-year term, will be known, after the votes are scanned electronically in Inverness in a hi-tech counting process. No party or group of candidates is likely to secure an outright majority because of the proportional representation voting system which is to be used for the second time in council elections. Another rainbow administration to run the local authority is on the cards and several combinations of parties are possible, dependant on results. It is understood the likelihood of the SNP and independents forming an alliance again is slim after the two sides previous coalition which disintegrated in 2008 in acrimonious fashion, only a year after they came together.
PEOPLE in Thurso appreciate their community council but regards members as “old fuddy-duddies”. That was stated by member Gill Arrowsmith at last Tuesday night’s meeting of the town’s communities during a discussion about the role of the organisation. She felt that impression is wrong but is one many people have. Councillor Colin Johnson made the point: “Plenty of people slag us off but they won’t come and join us."
WICK ACADEMY’S dream of playing the Scottish Challenge Cup next season isn’t over yet, according to their manager, despite surrendering a two-goal lead on Saturday. As two of only six teams that have been awarded a Scottish Football Association National Club Licence this year, Wick and Keith are each involved in an end-of-season dash to finish above the other to secure the second qualification spot along with Inverurie Locos, in the challenge cup that begins in July.
AND finally...photographs of the late Queen Mother, which have never been seen by the public, are now on show at her beloved holiday home in Caithness. The Castle of Mey, said to be one of her favourite places, has opened an exhibition of images of her time in Caithness, to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.