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Highland Council is 'irresponsible with money and always has been', says community councillor


By Gordon Calder

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A CAITHNESS community councillor has claimed Highland Council is "irresponsible with money and always has been."

Billy Dunbar, the chairman of Castletown and District Community Council, made the accusation during a discussion at last week's meeting on the condition of local roads and pot holes which, he described, as "unbelievable." The situation in the village and parts of Thurso was highlighted. "It is the same everywhere, not just in Castletown and Thurso," he said.

Mr Dunbar claimed using cold tar to fill pot holes was ineffective and temporary. "The money being wasted in Highland Council at the moment is absolutely horrendous and the buck stops with the chief executive, Donna Manson. They have a budget so let them do something with it. We pay our council tax but can't get tar for the roads although some are being done." He added: "Highland Council is irresponsible with money and always has been."

The state of the roads is unbelievable, according to Castletown community council chairman, Billy Dunbar
The state of the roads is unbelievable, according to Castletown community council chairman, Billy Dunbar

Donnie Mackay, who was attending his last meeting as a Thurso and Northwest Caithness Highland councillor before retiring, said: "Before Highland Council we had the best roads but now we have the worst ones. The problem is nothing has been done for the last lot of years."

Mr Mackay claimed the local authority should put a charge on timber and wind farm companies which use the roads and contribute to their deterioration.

It was also pointed out that some areas of Caithness have "hundreds of thousands in the bank" as a result of community benefit funds from wind farm developers while other areas get nothing.

Mr Dunbar said he thought Highland Council was addressing that issue and felt it would be fairer to give 50 per cent to the area hosting the wind turbines with the remainder being used for "things to help the community such as roads."

Mr Mackay agreed and said: "There should be a fairer way." He also claimed it would be better if the companies made electricty bills cheaper for local people.

A Highland Council spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment on a community councillor's opinion but pointed out that the capital roads budget allocation for Caithness in 2022/23 is expected to be similar to the previous year when it was £1,202,58. One hundred and fourteen priority repair areas have been identified across the Caithness wards.

He also pointed out that Highland Council agreed an additional £10 million investment programme for 2022-23 including an extra £5.5million for roads infrastructure.


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