Money needed for repair work at Caithness Horizons
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SIGNIFICANT investment is needed to carry out repairs at the Caithness Horizons museum and gallery in Thurso.
That was confirmed by chairman Craig Brown after the issue was raised by local community councillors this week.
He said: "There are a number of areas that require improvement due to deterioration but the main ones relate to the roof, the heating system and also external wall, glazing and doors."
Horizons closed in February after encountering financial difficulties, although it is hoped it can reopen in time for this year's tourist season.
Mr Brown said: "Prior to closure Caithness Horizons obtained engineering reports on the infrastructure issues which identified the requirement for significant investment. Discussions continue with Highland Council [which owns the building] on a way forward.
"The significantly increasing running costs to maintain and upgrade such a historic building against a reducing income has been a contributing factor for the decision to close. All parties in the discussions understand the urgency to find a sustainable resolution."
Speaking at a meeting of Thurso Community Council on Tuesday, local Highland councillor Matthew Reiss said he was "cautiously optimistic" Horizons would reopen "in some form".
But he stressed that "a big sum of money" needs to be spent doing work on the roof and heating systems at the facility, which opened just over 10 years ago.
Mr Reiss said it may need a different configuration involving various bodies before the centre can open again.
Community councillor Colin Johnston, who described Horizons as "a white elephant", wondered where the funding would come from to undertake the necessary work.
"It has been swallowing up money but has never made a profit. Why put money into it if it is not making a profit?" he asked.
Councillor Reiss explained that Highland Council and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd each provide £75,000 towards the running costs of Horizons. Other sources of funding are also being investigated.
Community councillor Bert MacLeod was surprised the roof needed repairs. "It is not that long since it opened. It should not need repairs in that time," he said.
Community councillor Rae Smith, expressed concern that the heating system had "gone wrong" after a decade. "That seems odd," she said.
"It is only in the last 10 years it has been going downhill," Mr MacLeod said, while Councillor Reiss said buildings "don't last forever".
Community councillor Thelma Mackenzie pointed out there should be maintenance records for work carried out at Horizons.
Highland Council and Dounreay provide £75,000 each for Horizons although that figure was cut from £90,000.
The facility closed on February 21 after encountering "significantly increasing running costs and reducing income making it unsustainable in the long term". The decision resulted in the loss of seven jobs.
