Cash deadline missed for Thurso beach steps repair

Thurso Community Council member Don Smith claimed that as no-one was prepared to take on responsibility for maintaining the steps, the deadline for gaining cash through the core paths fund was missed.

He accused the Highland Council of trying to pass on responsibility of maintenance to Thurso Community Council and said there was no way it could afford to do the required work.

“It is my understanding that the funding that was available through the core paths fund has been lost as the deadline passed,” he said. “It’s a nonsense that this money has been lost because nobody was prepared to take on the commitment.”

A spokeswoman for the Highland Council confirmed that TEC services has agreed to maintain the steps but could not give a date when work will start.

She said: “The cost of maintenance will be in the region of £10,000.

“Once a budget for this has been identified, a timescale for the work to start will be set.”