Nwicker60
28-Sep-12, 16:44
John O’ Groat Journal headlines: September 28, 2012
A CAITHNESS businessman claims he has been fighting against Highland and Islands Airports Ltd for two decades to bring new business to Wick Airport. Far North Aviation owner Andrew Bruce insists that HIAL has been nothing but trouble for him since he set up shop in 19191 and recent cutbacks in opening times have leaked more trade from the far north airfield. But HIAL insists Wick is open for business as usual and is “puzzled” by Mr Bruce’s claims.
DISABLED access to businesses in Caithness town centres has improved over the last 12 months but much more needs to be done. That is the message from Caithness Disabled Access Panel chairwoman, Helen Budge, who said that the county is starting to wake up to the needs of wheelchair users. But she said that the problem is a long way from being resolved, as many businesses still do not cater for the needs of disabled customers.
WICK is bracing itself for a few changes over the coming weeks as two new shops open and another bids farewell. Discount store Poundstretcher told the Groat yesterday it has set a provisional opening date of October 26 for the former Haldanes store in Macleay Lane. Meanwhile, the empty former premises of charity-style shop, Tyler’s Trust, has found a new lease of life as a computer shop. However, a couple of streets away, Shearers Kitchens and Bathrooms is shutting down as the owner moves on, after more than a decade in Victoria Place.
THE ‘Cinderella’ curfew, enforced in Thurso, has cut anti-social behaviour by almost half, in the last decade according to police. Northern Constabulary claimed the midnight curfew which is in force at Skinandi’s and the Newmarket Bar has resulted in fewer violent incident occurring in the town’s streets. It is supporting calls for the curfew to remain in place, as the Highland Licensing Board is set to meet in Inverness on Tuesday, to review it.
RESIDENTS at Tom Matheson Court in Thurso feel they have been let down by their housing association after it reclassed its shelter housing accommodation as amenity housing. Sheila McCracken and her neighbours claim Cairn Housing Association, which runs the complex, is not making its residents its most important priority. The housing scheme has been without a warden, otherwise known as a shelterhousing service manager, for three years.
A HEART-BROKEN mother, who found forgiveness writing about the tragic loss of her daughter, following a car accident in Caithness, is set to publish the work herself. Nicola Simpson’s daughter, Abigail was killed in 2007 when the Ford Fiesta, belonging to Castletown’s Scott Manson, smashed into a pillar on the Thurso to Castletown road just days after he passed his driving test. A grief-stricken Nicola found forgiveness by confronting the young last year and also through writing down her thoughts in the heart-wrenching aftermath of her loss.
A TOTAL of 1374 went through the ring at Aberdeen and Northern Marts show and sale of store cattle at its Caithness Livestock Centre at Quoybrae on Monday. Champion in the MacLean Farm Products-sponsored show, judged by Charlie Downie of Mains of Techmulry, Fraserburgh, was a 586kg Limousin heifer from D.G.Kennedy, Tresdale, Canisbay, and sold for £1,200 to D. Brown, Burnside of Dippie, Fochabers.
IT’s a long way to Shielfield Park, 318 miles across the Scottish border to be exact. In what will be the longest away trip of the Scottish Cup, second round, Wick Academy will be hoping to beat SFL opposition for the first time, when they take on Berwick Rangers tomorrow. It won’t be a cheap trip for the Scorries with transport and hotels estimate to have cost the Caithness club in excess £5000. Caretaker maanger Richard Hughes, said the fact the board has spent so much money in allowing players to get to Berwick in the best shape possible, has given the team all the confidence it needs to pull off a cup shock.
A CAITHNESS businessman claims he has been fighting against Highland and Islands Airports Ltd for two decades to bring new business to Wick Airport. Far North Aviation owner Andrew Bruce insists that HIAL has been nothing but trouble for him since he set up shop in 19191 and recent cutbacks in opening times have leaked more trade from the far north airfield. But HIAL insists Wick is open for business as usual and is “puzzled” by Mr Bruce’s claims.
DISABLED access to businesses in Caithness town centres has improved over the last 12 months but much more needs to be done. That is the message from Caithness Disabled Access Panel chairwoman, Helen Budge, who said that the county is starting to wake up to the needs of wheelchair users. But she said that the problem is a long way from being resolved, as many businesses still do not cater for the needs of disabled customers.
WICK is bracing itself for a few changes over the coming weeks as two new shops open and another bids farewell. Discount store Poundstretcher told the Groat yesterday it has set a provisional opening date of October 26 for the former Haldanes store in Macleay Lane. Meanwhile, the empty former premises of charity-style shop, Tyler’s Trust, has found a new lease of life as a computer shop. However, a couple of streets away, Shearers Kitchens and Bathrooms is shutting down as the owner moves on, after more than a decade in Victoria Place.
THE ‘Cinderella’ curfew, enforced in Thurso, has cut anti-social behaviour by almost half, in the last decade according to police. Northern Constabulary claimed the midnight curfew which is in force at Skinandi’s and the Newmarket Bar has resulted in fewer violent incident occurring in the town’s streets. It is supporting calls for the curfew to remain in place, as the Highland Licensing Board is set to meet in Inverness on Tuesday, to review it.
RESIDENTS at Tom Matheson Court in Thurso feel they have been let down by their housing association after it reclassed its shelter housing accommodation as amenity housing. Sheila McCracken and her neighbours claim Cairn Housing Association, which runs the complex, is not making its residents its most important priority. The housing scheme has been without a warden, otherwise known as a shelterhousing service manager, for three years.
A HEART-BROKEN mother, who found forgiveness writing about the tragic loss of her daughter, following a car accident in Caithness, is set to publish the work herself. Nicola Simpson’s daughter, Abigail was killed in 2007 when the Ford Fiesta, belonging to Castletown’s Scott Manson, smashed into a pillar on the Thurso to Castletown road just days after he passed his driving test. A grief-stricken Nicola found forgiveness by confronting the young last year and also through writing down her thoughts in the heart-wrenching aftermath of her loss.
A TOTAL of 1374 went through the ring at Aberdeen and Northern Marts show and sale of store cattle at its Caithness Livestock Centre at Quoybrae on Monday. Champion in the MacLean Farm Products-sponsored show, judged by Charlie Downie of Mains of Techmulry, Fraserburgh, was a 586kg Limousin heifer from D.G.Kennedy, Tresdale, Canisbay, and sold for £1,200 to D. Brown, Burnside of Dippie, Fochabers.
IT’s a long way to Shielfield Park, 318 miles across the Scottish border to be exact. In what will be the longest away trip of the Scottish Cup, second round, Wick Academy will be hoping to beat SFL opposition for the first time, when they take on Berwick Rangers tomorrow. It won’t be a cheap trip for the Scorries with transport and hotels estimate to have cost the Caithness club in excess £5000. Caretaker maanger Richard Hughes, said the fact the board has spent so much money in allowing players to get to Berwick in the best shape possible, has given the team all the confidence it needs to pull off a cup shock.