MILLIONS IN SCHOOL FUNDING SECURED

The announcement of £100million of funding has been hailed as a momentous step forward for Caithness, and one that has been a long time coming. For years, constituents have seen the decline of key facilities across the Far North, most visibly the condemned A-Block building at Thurso High School. Once a busy hub of learning, it has stood empty and declared unsafe, a daily reminder of the failure of successive Highland Council administrations to invest in Caithness.

Local Councillors Struan Mackie and Ron Gunn were the first to challenge the Highland Council after the Local Authorities failed to reinstate Thurso High School’s A-Block after it was condemned in 2022. Given the worsening condition of other Council facilities across the Thurso and Northwest Caithness ward, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have been pushing for a transformational investment in the Ward, leading the cross-party support for the Highland Investment Plan for Caithness.

Cllr Mackie acknowledged, “This isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it is about the message we send to our young people and the wider community about the importance of investing in our future.

“We are pleased that our political pressure and willingness to work across the Chamber to deliver for our Community will help us return a significant investment into our schools and service delivery in Caithness.

“The Highland Investment Plan will see a complete redevelopment of the educational estate, and a new campus adjacent to Thurso High School that will include community facilities. It is our ambition that the new campus will be a place where education, sport, and community life can thrive together. It will provide modern classrooms, improved digital infrastructure, and spaces where the whole community can come together, from local groups and clubs to parents and families.

To ensure that the right facilities and infrastructure for the town and the surrounding community are included in the plan, Councillors are encouraging constituents to feed into the consultation process.

“Your voice matters — whether you’re a parent wanting the best for your child’s education, a sports coach hoping for better training spaces, or a local business owner who sees the value of a vibrant community hub, lets ensure we get the very best our of this opportunity.