Fit's in 'e Groat 's week

John O' Groat Journal headlines for February 1
A DEMENTIA care unit in Caithness, forced to close over staffing issues, last summer, may not open again, it has emerged. NHS Highland says the future of the Harmsworth Unit at the Town and County Hospital, in Wick, which specialised in helping patients with cognitive and memory problems, is in doubt. The nine-bed unit was closed, temporarily last July, due to severe staffing pressures with the health authority planning to recruit staff to enable it to reopen as soon as possible. But, almost seven months on, the ward remains closed with its future dependent on the outcome of a review of health services in Caithness.

THE
former US naval communication base at West Murkle, could be turned into a multi-purpose venue home to art studios gallery and the most northern skate park in the UK. Caithness Craft Art Skate Surf Ltd has submitted an application to Highland Council to convert the site into a project it is calling The North Base. The £97,500 project, which is being spearheaded by directors Helen Moore and Beki Pope, is to create an inclusive venue that would provide access to education and training for all ages, generating and inspiring innovative arts projects and raising the profile of the north Highlands as a creative area.

TWO
Thurso Highland councillors have blasted officials for failing to notify them about the installation of a bilingual sign at a council building in the town centre. John Rosie is angry councillors were not informed that a new Gaelic/English sign at the service point in Rotterdam Street, was given consent without the approval of elected members He finds it insulting after fighting for almost two decades to have street signs put up at new areas of Thurso, to see a bilingual sign hanging outside council offices.

PEOPLE
in and around Reay are being encouraged to object to a large scale wind farm development proposed for land to the south of the village. Infinergy wants to put up 24 tuirbines on land at Limekin, currently used as a commercial woodland plantation. The planning application for the 72 mjegawatt venture was submnitted to the Scottish Government last December. Some residents fear the hulking turbines and their close proximity to houses will overwhelm the area.

THURSO
Community Council is to object to Tesco's bid for an extension in its planning consent to build a new supermarket in the town. After five years of no progress with the former auction mart site, the food chain is being sent a message that it should not be given a second chance after having let down residents. Last month, the planning permission which was granted in 2007, expired without a brick being laid. Community councillors say they are backing public calls for Highland Council to refuse an extension and for the land to be sold off to a new buyer.

FARMERS
in Caithness are ahead of the rest, in meeting today's deadline for testing breeding cattle herds for bovine viral diarrhoea. NFU Caithness chairman, Arnott Coghill, said almost all cattle farms in the county will meeet today's screening deadline as the Scottish Government has put in strict measures to eradicate the disease.

CELEBRATING its
first birthday this weekend, the significance of the Pulteney Centre to the north Highlands in such a short space of time, has seen it come of age. Twelve months ago, the Pulteneytown Peoples Project opened the doors of its new community centre to the public after six years of fundraising to meet its £3.4 million cost. But the employment, business, education and lesiure opportunitities created, has proved it to be worth every penny to the far north.