Unfinished contract concern

TranServe assurance was "pie in the sky" says chair of Wick community council

WICK community councillors are to protest to Scotland TranServe for going back on their word over a major drainage and road scheme in the town.
The multi-million pound contract should have been nearing completion.
However, members of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council were told that the bulk of the work had yet to be carried out.
Chairwoman Coreen Campbell said that the council had been given an assurance, 18 months ago, that the work would get underwayand be finished next month, but she had been disappointed, recently, to learn different at a recent transport meeting.
She said: “Instead, we were told, by the very same gentleman, that it would be some considerable time before there would be money for improvements. TransServe couldn’t even give us a date, which wouldn’t have made any difference, anyway, because we were given a date before. It is just pie in the sky.”
Councillor Graeme Smith commented: “We were given a promise, a guarantee, that South Road would be tackled. I do feel that TranServe has let us down.”
Councillors were told that the road company had done some work to alleviate the recurring problem of flooding of homes in the South Road area but had only re-surface one half of the street.
“The other side is starting to crumble” said Councillor Wendy Campbell who added that the network road company couldn’t finish it, because the drainage had to go in first.
She added: “The longer this goes on, the more expensive it will be. It will just escalate. Personally, I would like to see the road completely re-surfaced. In fact, there are a few roads in Wick that need it done.”
Councillors are to make representations to Scotland TranServe.
However, there has been action on another road front....the one outside Wick’s Norseman Hotel which has been plagued by joy riders.
The problem practice, highlighted at last month’s meeting, became so serious, that it was affecting the establishment’s trade with some guests, frustrated by the late night noise, threatening not to return.
Members were pleased to hear that cruise control had been taken by the local police. Police Sergeant, Ian Sutherland reported that the problem had received special attention and a number of ASBOS had been issued to offenders.
He also reported that the battle against the continuing problem of vandalism was continuing and was able to report some success, by two officers seconded to dealing with the crime, who had achieved results in some 70 cases.
Sgt. Sutherland said they were pleased with the progress, particularly as it was the type of crime that was difficult to detect and cost individuals and firms. One local firm’s bill for vandalism had reached £10,000 and it is expected to spend a further £25,000 in security measures.
Commenting on the current review of policing in Scotland and the proposal to have one “huge” force, Mr Sutherland said that while it might result in certain savings, accountability and resources would suffer.
Mrs Campbell commented that they were suffering enough centralisation in Highland Council and added that it would be “a shame” if forces went the same way.
Mr Smith said: “I am not aware of any group in the Highlands that supports the idea.”
Reporting on the current review on schools, he invited everyone to make known their views to Highland Council. He said that they were living in a different world, now, with different requirements so far as the schools establishment in the Highlands was concerned.