Caithness Courier headlines for June 19, 2013
FAR north councillors have backed a £3 billion development to build 277 wind turbines eight miles off the Caithness coast and hopes Wick can reap the potential spin-offfs. It is the second multi-billion pound off-shore development to get the green light from councillors in three months.

A WICK district heating scheme has been hailed as a trailblazer by Scottish Energy Minister, Fergus Ewing. During a visit to Ignis Wick Ltd’s base in the town, Mr Ewing welcomed plans to expand the network in a venture which took over from the Wick Community Heat and Power initiative.

CALLS to reopen the gates of an ancient monument have been backed by a masterplan to develop regenerate and improve Thurso. Highland Council’s development plans team says the grounds of Old St Peter’s Kirk along with Thurso Castle should be open to the public and be heavily promoted as key tourist attractions.

SCOTTISH Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing made a stout defence of his government’s support for wind energy, during a visit to Caithness where the upsurge in large-scale turbine ventures has provoked intense controversy. Apart from injecting between £350 million and £400 million-a-year into the Scottish economy, Mr Ewing said wind farms create jobs, provide the community benefit funds and play “a huge part” in justifying the upgrade of the national grid.

ENGINEERING companies in Caithness are being urged to consider tendering for a contract to produce thousands of stainless steel boxes which are required to house radioactive waste at the giant Sellafield reprocessing complex in Cumbria. Enterprise and development agencies believe the work would provide a big boost to the local economy were it carried out in the county. Sellafield Ltd is looking for two manufacturers to construct 2200 three-metre cubed boxes to store waste from ponds and silos at its site near Whitehaven.

A BARMAN is looking for financial movers and shakers to help underwrite the cost of setting up a new cocktail bar he intends opening in Thurso. Qualified mixologist, Simon Collier reckons he has all the ingredients to make a success of the venture he hopes to get off the ground next month.

THE 59th Caithness Music Festival drew to a close on Friday night with a spectacular finale from the Melvich Gaelic Choir. It brought to an end another year for the successful festival which should be an even better one next year on its 60th birthday.