Thurso plea for improved service point opening hours
Community representatives are unhappy with the change to opening hours of Highland Council’s Thurso service point since the pandemic.
They are unhappy at the inconvenience caused through it no longer being open to the public after lunch.
Thurso Community Council chair Thelma Mackenzie said another change since Covid has been that the service point staff now have to deal with phone calls throughout the Highlands.
Speaking at Tuesday evening’s meeting, she said: “People are complaining that it’s not open when they want it to be.
“If you work from 9-5 through the week you have no chance to visit the office and it’s not open on Saturdays.”
Council colleague Gill Arrowsmith said the previous practice of opening two afternoons a week soon after the pandemic was helpful.
Local Highland councillor Ron Gunn said the staff at the service point are very busy dealing with callers.
A Highland Council spokesperson said the service point has maintained its 15 hours per week opening since October 2021.
The spokesperson added: “Thurso Service Point opening hours are: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm. This was changed in March 2024 from three mornings and two afternoons due to staffing constraints.
“After successful recruitment, we will be looking to move back to the three mornings and two afternoons in 2025.
“All service points are able to take requests for service for any Highland area as the same systems and processes are used Highland wide.”
