New ideas for improving Caithness

[rob murray]

Dounreay could be converted into an extermination camp for the long term unemployed as advocated by some on here...
Could even put them to work first helping with the decommissioning of the more radioactive parts as they won't need any safety equipment since they are about to die anyway.

You know what, given the bile spewed by certain people, your quite possibly correct !

[secrets in symmetry]

Two excellent posts if I say so myself, by definition, as you say its my world so its just me that lives there as for cuckoo's nah plenty of pigeons though lol lol lol

I wrote only one excellent post, but I agree that it's worth two excellent posts written by most others.

Have you ever written an excellent post, or do you always project your cuckoos onto the real world by suggesting things that won't happen in the near future?

Why do you denigrate Caithness so much?

[secrets in symmetry]

Dounreay could be converted into an extermination camp for the long term unemployed as advocated by some on here...
Could even put them to work first helping with the decommissioning of the more radioactive parts as they won't need any safety equipment since they are about to die anyway.

I'm afraid Dounreay has already been booked for solving the problem of recalcitrant failed secessionists post eckerendum:

Our great nation will need to deal with a serious problem after the secessionist referendum has been lost by the secessionist traitors. History tells us that the best way to deal with the vanquished is to rid ourselves of the problem.

So, should we exclude them, or execute them? History suggests that the latter is the best solution (and perhaps the most logical one), and it might also be argued that it's the most rational and objective one. The problem with that solution is mainly ecological - what would we do with so many remains?

Where in Caithness would we create our "Patriotic Landfill" without increasing our Carbon Footprint?

Evidently, the decision of where to locate the execution site has already been made, although there's some local opposition:

Dounreay firing range plan sparks new protest

Less well known is where the remains will be dumped:

Dounreay nuclear waste to be stored in 'big holes'

Does that big open hole look suitable for dumping nuclear waste? Lol, of course not!

[ducati]

The ideal future would be as a retirement community for people who don't want a community. All the goods and services this group of cash rich would need would fuel a healthy economy. Look at Florida. Of course, this would require a more relaxed attitude to incomers.

[secrets in symmetry]

'scuse me are we all talking about the same county? Caithness has scenery, wildlife and archaeology to challenge anywhere in The United Kingdom. It has beaches to die for and although it might be a few feet short of a mountain it sure has some high hills!

Indeed.

The nay sayers seem to have a problem observing what's around them.

[luskentyre]

I love living here - really I do. I think we're genuinely lucky to have such a relatively unspoilt landscape and a good quality of life. However, I wish (some) people were a bit more interested in welcoming visitors more and delivering a decent service. I had guests up recently and it was frankly embarrassing how bad it can sometimes be. Even getting a decent meal in the evening was a struggle. I'm not going to name the establishment in question but we ended up just walking out since it was so bad. I suggested somewhere else but it was closed. We went to a John O' Groats and even there certain individuals seem to think that working in the service industry requires a miserable attitude. What happened to service with a smile? Their accommodation was cold, damp and even basic things like supplying tea/coffee seemed to be a problem.

My guests spent a few days in Orkney afterwards and the difference was immense. The difference perhaps is that Orkney is dependant on the tourist industry whereas Thurso is not (yet). Things are going to change up here a great deal over the next 10 years and we need to be ready. I see very little evidence so far unfortunately. It's a shame since the county has a lot of offer but we need to provide a decent "wrapper" to encourage people to see it.

[secrets in symmetry]

Coincidentally, I had a visit last night from a friend who lives down south. He has spent a few days working in Thurso on a couple of occasions recently. He described the accommodation and service he received in one Thurso establishment as dire. Contrastingly, he had much better things to say about the Pentland Hotel.

I won't name the "dire" establishment either.

(I haven't stayed in either establishment, and I have no connections with either.)

[mi16]

Why not name the poor establishments, it may be the encouragement they need to up their game.

[Southern-Gal]

I do think that all the old croft houses lying infields falling down is a waste it also looks a bit eerie to people not used to seeing them. Maybe they could be used to face new builds or put into the founds when replacements are built to lessen the look of ghost farms and houses dotted about the fields and more rural areas. Obviously not the special ones they ought to be sympathetically restored to their former glory for all to see.
A working slaughter house would be a benefit to all including the animals we eat up here.
There you go Ragnar Rocks two good projects to get your mind spinning

[ducati]

I do think that all the old croft houses lying infields falling down is a waste it also looks a bit eerie to people not used to seeing them. Maybe they could be used to face new builds or put into the founds when replacements are built to lessen the look of ghost farms and houses dotted about the fields and more rural areas. Obviously not the special ones they ought to be sympathetically restored to their former glory for all to see.
A working slaughter house would be a benefit to all including the animals we eat up here.
There you go Ragnar Rocks two good projects to get your mind spinning

I like the 'ghost farms', adds to the atmosphere of the place.

[mi16]

I do think that all the old croft houses lying infields falling down is a waste it also looks a bit eerie to people not used to seeing them. Maybe they could be used to face new builds or put into the founds when replacements are built to lessen the look of ghost farms and houses dotted about the fields and more rural areas. Obviously not the special ones they ought to be sympathetically restored to their former glory for all to see. A working slaughter house would be a benefit to all including the animals we eat up here.There you go Ragnar Rocks two good projects to get your mind spinning

Are these old buildings not listed?Yes the last slaughter house worked well didn't it?

[Sgitheanach]

Caithness undersells its self to the tourist industry there is a lot of potential but it is the same sites that get promoted year in year out but in order to develop the tourist industry you need to have the infastructure to get visitors here,good quality affordable accommodation a method of funding for new attractions and you need to understand that you can not change things overnight i belong to Skye where we ran a guest house and were involved in promoting several other tourist attractions tourism provides jobs but not well paid jobs unless you own your business .

[secrets in symmetry]

Why not name the poor establishments, it may be the encouragement they need to up their game.

Although I trust my friend's judgement, it was second-hand information. Also, I wouldn't want to quote him without his permission.

[mi16]

Although I trust my friend's judgement, it was second-hand information. Also, I wouldn't want to quote him without his permission.

Very wise approach

[secrets in symmetry]

Very wise approach

You know me - I'm always careful and always polite when tangible evidence is a little scarce.

[orkneycadian]

The difference perhaps is that Orkney is dependent on the tourist industry whereas Thurso is not (yet).

Whilst it provides a very useful additional income, I wouldn't say that tourism is the be all and end all - Sure it is if you are in that industry, but figures from OIC (sorry, newest ones I could find online - 2011 report - http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Files/Busin...iew%202011.zip) suggest that out of 1495 active enterprises, 80 were involved in accommodation and food services. OK, there will be a few more that fall into things like recreation and some more like construction companies that get work from building hotels and the likes. But the percentage impact from tourism is most definitely a minor one in the big picture. The year before's report suggests that 11.1% of jobs in Orkney were "tourism related" but this is based on 2008 data.

The 2009 data says that tourism was worth £32 million to the Orkney economy. Not to be sniffed at, I agree, but still a small proportion of Orkney's total economy. Sometimes, the tourism industry attracts to much focus - "We cant have any rural development is case it scares off the tourists", even though rural business completely eclipses tourism business. Like many other things, some perspective needs to be maintained!

Be careful if believing that tourism and tourism alone can sustain Caithness!

[luskentyre]

Be careful if believing that tourism and tourism alone can sustain Caithness!

Perhaps "dependant" was the wrong term but I think you'll agree it's an important aspect of the Orkney economy (and one they take seriously). It's not just accommodation and food, it's retail, visitor attractions, travel etc. as well.

I do accept that tourism will never sustain Caithness, but it certainly wouldn't do any harm to support it. I just think we're far too complacent and short-sighted sometimes.

[secrets in symmetry]

Whilst it provides a very useful additional income, I wouldn't say that tourism is the be all and end all - Sure it is if you are in that industry, but figures from OIC (sorry, newest ones I could find online - 2011 report - http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Files/Busin...iew%202011.zip) suggest that out of 1495 active enterprises, 80 were involved in accommodation and food services. OK, there will be a few more that fall into things like recreation and some more like construction companies that get work from building hotels and the likes. But the percentage impact from tourism is most definitely a minor one in the big picture. The year before's report suggests that 11.1% of jobs in Orkney were "tourism related" but this is based on 2008 data.

The 2009 data says that tourism was worth £32 million to the Orkney economy. Not to be sniffed at, I agree, but still a small proportion of Orkney's total economy. Sometimes, the tourism industry attracts to much focus - "We cant have any rural development is case it scares off the tourists", even though rural business completely eclipses tourism business. Like many other things, some perspective needs to be maintained!

Be careful if believing that tourism and tourism alone can sustain Caithness!

Thanks for such an enlightening post. I think most of us Caithness folk believed that Orkney lives on tourism and little else.

[hopper.65]

Ok why do the vast majority of tourists motor through to Scrabster ??? WHats there in Caithness to attract and to hold people and don't give me the guff about Caithness being a welcoming place....so is Palma Majorca ! The place has no identity, ie not gael nor norse....the vast majority of visitors to scotland wish to consume what they see as authentic scottish experiences or what the perceive as scottish experiences....Caithness....does it / will it ever fit the bill ?? Whats wrong with building a new reactor / storage facilities anyhow...if it wasn't for Dounreay a Caithness would have been another Stroma ! Do I hear cuckoo's ???

I think you have told it exactly as is and certainly no cuckoo's ringing in my ears, Caithness for the vast majority of tourists offers little appeal, yes you get twitchers and those who like to sit and read a book in silence for a week with little else to distract them from doing so.
Caithness simply doesn't have the stunning beauty or the activities of the likes of Wester Ross and Sutherland and to most it is a baron wasteland with no trees, but the tourist board for this area should be ashamed they have done nothing to exploit the abundance of natural history we have in Caithness, look at the Camster Cairns there is not even anyone to tell you about the place and there is many more sites which could be a tourist magnet, they place that the most effort goes into is the Whaligoe steps and that is done by Davy who lives in the cottage at the top who donates his own time to tell tourists what went on here, the steps aren't even sign posted! .
Orkney puts us to shame when it comes to turning what they have on their doorstep into generating a sound economy, Orkney is not a place of beauty, some may think it is but i don't believe it is any more attractive than Caithness, maybe even less do yet because they have made the most of what they have it has a really good tourist industry while Caithness direct them straight to ferry with Orkney the only ones to benefit.
Even they way they support their small businesses is much superior to us and in Caithness and Sutherland it was one blunder after the other pouring millions into schemes that did nothing.
Orkney apart from Flotta has no big employer like Dounreay and there economy flourishes on small businesses that grow steadily with excellent support from their development agency.
I have seen the difference between how much better they are at promoting their local industries over the utterly useless twits we have here who really don't help this county at all and i know that to be a fact.
Dounreay should never of been run down and it should of been a major source in this countries future power sources.
There is not going to be a large employer attracted here to replace Dounreay and Caithness will never now be able to find alternative work for this amount of people.
The whole CASE thing here was nothing but a joke for years, though i admit with Roy Kirk it is improving but think even his best efforts will not be what they could of been due to the shambles that we had for years before he was appointed.

[ducati]

I'd have thought that for such a small population we are doing rather well for traditional and green and high tec industries.

Let's see, Dounreay; is years and years behind in the decomissioning process and is issuing new contracts and employing new skills continually. I've not seen the latest target end date but I'll bet a stack of cash this high it won't be met.

Subsea 7 have new contracts and are expanding again.

There finally seems to be activity in the firth from Meygen and others.

Our high tech firm in Wick, Kongsburgh seems to be busy looking at the carpark

All the farms and crofts look as busy as they should at this time of the year

There are more shops opening in the high street again

Various building firms are increasing activity I've noticed

and tourist and transport traffic on the A9 looks pretty healthy.