A former military base in the far north could be transformed into a skate park and arts centre if councillors approve plans this week.
A group of skaters and artists from Caithness and Sutherland are the driving force behind the North Base project which aims to revamp the decommissioned US Navy communications base at West Murkle, overlooking Thurso Bay.
The campaigners want to turn the area, currently used for storage, into an indoor skate park with a cafe and artists’ studios where they would hold art exhibitions and workshops and skating classes.
Beki Pope, director of Caithness Skate Art Surf which is behind the proposal, said she hoped it would bring £117,000 a year into the community and attract up to 25,000 users a year.
The plans have created a stir in the local community with nine letters of objection sent to Highland Council and two in support.
One local couple objecting to the scheme, Mrs and Mrs Bremner, of West Murkle, said: “There is no need for another skate park as there is one in Thurso up in Ormlie which is never used that has grant funding. This project is a complete waste of money.”
They also claimed the unclassified single track road would be unable to cope with amount of the traffic generated by the proposed 25,000 users a year.
Several other objectors also voiced concerns about traffic and safety and the impact on the residential amenity.
Castletown Community Council has “reluctantly” objected to the proposal due to concerns about the roads and the long opening hours.
George Walker, writing in support of the plans, said the objections were flawed because the US Navy base was able to accommodate three shifts of personnel, contractors and deliveries 365 days of the year, amounting to well over the proposed 25,000 visitors.
He added: “This proposed development could bring some much needed jobs into the Thurso area and revenue to local economy.”
Other supporters said the existing skate park was run-down and weather dependent.
In a report due to go before Highland Council’s north planning applications committee on Tuesday, council planners are recommending approval of the scheme.
The local authority’s roads department said it would require three new passing places on the access road and upgrades to existing passing places.