Caithness Courier review: May 18, 2011

NO prizes for guessing which issue dominates today’s edition. The story, on the death of the Caithness Heating and Power scheme, which promised so much, not least cheaper fuel bills for 242 householders, and delivered so little, broke on the worst possible day for the paper, last Friday, but offsetting that time lapse, is that fact that it has freshened the issue up, with extensive reaction to the shock news, which is splashed on the front page. There’s more responses from leading figures, inside.

THE other story on page one is also a controversial one...the news that the popular leisure classes, run by Pulteneytown People’s Project, is under threat. Changes to the Individual Learning Account (ILA) funding, will have serious implications for the classes provided by PPP in Wick and three rural communities. ILAs are provided under a Scottish Government scheme to encourage people over 16 with an income of £22,000-a-year. Under the new criteria, ILAs can no longer be used for leisure classes.

INSIDE is a story about Tesco employee, David Longmuir (34) from Milton, who is heading for Afghanistan with Territorial Army. And staff at the store were determined he wasn’t going to go quietly. They threw a surprise party for the produce department employee. The canteen was decorated with flags and there were plenty of good luck wishes. David said he knew there was something planned but had not expected such a send-off.

UNMARKED police cars are the latest weapon in the fight against antisocial drivers who delight in cruising around town centres in Wick and Thurso, engines revving and wheels spinning, the Courier reports. Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss warns that his officers will be adopting “a tough and robust stance” on the practice.

THE Scottish Government’s approach to new, large-scale, windfarms, was dubbed “totalitarian” at the ongoing public inquiry into a plan to erect 30 turbines on Spittal Hill. According to Dunnet resident, Stuart Young, the lives of some rural residents are being blighted. in the dash to reach green energy targets. Mr Young, who chairs Caithness Windfarm Information Forum, said that giving the development the green light, would make it very difficult to refuse any other windfarm proposals in Scotland. Giving evidence to the final day of the inquiry, he urged inquiry reporter, Roger Croft to recommend refusal, to check the rapid spread of windfarms, in Caithness. He said: “I expect that the developers will argue that, with central Caithness already trashed by windfarms, one more will make no difference. That is not the case.”

WILL Clark reports that Highland councillors are to mount a campaign to retain Inverness Airport as a regional air hub, amid worries of rising landing charges at Gatwick. It is feared the move will result in a decrease in flights to London from Inverness due to higher fares, making services less affordable to customers. Members have unanimously given their support to airline Flybe which is challenging the increased landing charges. The authority is to seek meetings at Holyrood and Westminster to highlight the importance to inward investment and the Highland economy , of daily air links between Inverness and Gatwick. It is also to seek the support of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, as it believes this will become an issue for all regional airports. On the positive side of air travel...a new service, which will link Inverness Airport and Amsterdam, has been hailed as good news for business and leisure travellers. Flybe will start operating on the route on Monday, September 5 with bookings now available.

IN the sports pages, the Castle of Mey 10k which took place on Sunday, was hailed as “the best so far”. While the rest of the county endured showers of rain, the clouds parted for the third annual event, which attracted a field of 317 runners, of which 315 finished. Graeme Dunnett who chairs the organising committee, North Highland Harriers, said that athletes and sponsors were delighted with how the afternoon event had gone. Honours on the day went to North Highland Harrier Jack Trevelyan who came home in a time of 36 minutes and 12 seconds, as the first male. Fastest female was Caroline Milne (41.27).

AND finally, what about that Wick Academy result!...5-0 against Lossiemouth. The iceing on the cake was Richard Macadie, getting into the scoring spate, to record his 66th goal for his club.