John O' Groat Journal headlines for April 22, 2016


THE owner of the freighter which sank in the Pentland Firth with the loss of its eight crew has denied the captain was under commerciall pressure to go to sea in hostile weather conditions. The Cypriot-registered Cemfjord foundered and sank off the north coast of Caithness during a fierce storm in January last year.

PLANS to build an Iron Age broch in Caithness could be in line to receive funding from the European commission. Scottish MEP Alyn Smith has given his backing to the Caithness Broch Project which is looking to build the structure to reorganise the important part brochs played in the county and to create what the group believe could become a major tourist draw.

CAMPAIGNERS are continuing their fight against plans to build an electricity switching station on farmland to the north of Wick. Save Noss Head maintains SHE Tranmission risks destroying one of the most scenic landscapes in east Caithness if its, scheme gets the green light.

SERVICES at Caithness General Hospital should be improved by a new rotation for consultant physicians. The move introduced by NHS Highland, follows the expansion of the acute medicine consultants at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. The bigger four-strong team will now be able to rotate to Caithness General, providing weekend cover in a similar way to Wick hospital's surgical consultant model.

A WICK nursery which faced closure after its old premises closed, has found a new place to call home. Norlin Playgroup is to move into new premises based at Wick Industrial Estate as soon as it gets the all-clear from the Care Inspectorate.

A CAITHNESS woman is playing a key role in the international oil industry. Nicola Macleod, who comes from Murkle,, is a director of Maersk Oil in Aberdeen and is responsible for looking after the legal, personnel and communications side of the business.

PLANS by Atlantis Resources Ltd, owners of MeyGen to develop tidal energy in the Pentland Firth have been boosted by a £6.5 million share issue. The company raised the sum before expenses, after issuing 11,888,640 ndew ordinary shares at 55p a share.