Support for Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership
The Highland Council has praised the progress the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership has made in stimulating and widening the local economy and has endorsed future actions to attract new industries to the area.
The Partnership was set up in 2007 with a remit to address the socio-economic effects of the decommissioning of the Dounreay site. During a presentation last week to the Full Council on progress made over the last 12 months, Programme Manager Eann Sinclair highlighted that over 100 jobs have been created so far this financial year and by March 2017 it is expected that the far north will see a further 480 new jobs.
After the presentation members agreed a number of forward planning actions including continuing to work with HIE and other partners to help ScrabsterHarbour Trust with the successful delivery of the Business and Industrial Park at Scrabster harbour and to continuing to work with the CNSRP partners to ensure support for Wick Harbour Authority’s ambitious plans to capture the employment potential from the operation and maintenance of offshore wind sites in the Moray Firth. They also agreed to continue working with the Partnership to make the most of all energy and tourism related opportunities and to ensure the area’s important business potential is recognised.
Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry said: “The Partnership do an absolutely terrific job and the outcomes that have been achieved since work started have been outstanding. It really is a great example of a group that engages well and gets results.”
Chair of the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee, Cllr Deirdre Mackay shared his sentiments. She said: “The results speak for themselves and it is great to see major projects are coming to fruition. There is much the Partnership should be proud of and it’s fair to say Caithness is now a very different place from what it was a few short years ago.
“I believe this is down to strong and committed joint working with the focus clearly on joined up thinking and long term planning. I would also like to highlight the positive role the Caithness Chamber of Commerce has played in bringing influence to bear. All this work going on no doubt underpins the fruit that is bear now. Finally I would also like to mention the excellent work going on in our local High Schools to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths activities and encourage young people to consider selecting subjects and having careers in the fields we are attracting to the North. The Partnership continues to have a crucial role, especially with the decommissioning of Dounreay, and I know I speak for our whole Area Committee when I say we strongly support its work and it’s aspirations and we wish them every continued success.”
ENDS