Caithness Courier headlines for January 27, 2015


TEN employees at Norwegian company's base in Wick look set to lose their jobs due to the crisis affecting the UK oil and gas sector. Konsberg Maritime has confirmed it is likely to make 10 of its workers redundant in the coming weeks, as oil and gas firms across Scotland continue to suffer from the low price of oil.

THE leader of Highland Council's new Caithness committee has resigned, just 12 days after being appointed following a spat about responsibility payments. Gillian Coghill claims she was subjected to over-the-top verbal attacks for her views on the issue and failed to win backing from the majority of her county colleagues.

TRADE union chiefs want to see the use of zero-hour contracts ended at Dounreay as well as all employees working on the site earning the living wage. The Scottish Trades Union Congress general secretary, Grahame Smith, said it was unacceptable employees are being offered zero-hour contracts. He is calling for all staff to be offered ocntracts which guarantee a certain number of hours a week.

FOUR sisters are appalled by the prospect of an electricity switching station being built near their family home in Caithness. They claim the development, at Noss Head, one of a number of sites being considered for the project , would destrory one of the most scenic landscapes in the county.

ALMOST a third ft trains on the far north line were unreliable according to figures released by the Scottish Government. The statistics showed that nearly 30 percent of the journeys between Caithness and Inverness were best by problems, last year.

A CAITHNESS artist yesterday described the snowstorm which struck his adopted home city of New York at the weekend, as "alarming". Ian Charles Scott was unable to get out of his front or back doors as both were blocked by nearly three feet of snow.

AN entrepreneur is to give his business a global boost after attending one of the world's most renowned business executive development courses. Derek Campbell of Thurso battery and charger manufacturer, Denchi Power, will be among 120 entrepreneurs from across the globe taking part in the entrepreneurship development programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, this week.

THE grandson and daughter of the first Briton to win the Monte Carlo Classic Rally are to retrace his tyre tracks from John O Groats 90 years on. Michael Grimmond is today set to lead 25 classic cars from the famous end-of-the-road stretch, on a special ceremonial start to the world famous rally.

WICK Academy eased past Rothes in their Breedon Aggregates Highland League Cup preliminary tie at Harmsworth Park on Saturday to set up an away clash with holders Cove Rangers. The score 6-1.