In her latest podcast from the Highlands, P&J local government reporter Susy Macaulay takes a walk round Wick with community councillors Joanna Coghill and Luke Graham, who tell her what they’re doing for their town and their frustrations that they can’t get more done.
The pair pointed out the good, the bad and the ugly sides of Wick but from a standpoint of complete passion for the place.
With frustrations boiling over in the podcast, Joanna and Luke criticise Highland Council for ignoring their needs, and local councillors for “doing nothing”.
Listen to our podcast below.
Caithness area committee chairman Matthew Reiss replies here that this is far from the case.
He said: “The council is teetering on the brink financially. I understand the frustrations felt by Joanna and Luke, but many projects are on hold across Highland because of that.
“I have a lot of sympathy with the traffic problems and parking enforcement in the town, but the council has to pick up the slack for traffic wardens, only where there are parking charges.”
Wick councillor Willie Mackay said: “The community councillors are concerned that work hasn’t gone ahead on Coghill Bridge, but it’s one of many projects on hold because the council would have been insolvent if it had carried them out.
“There’s a lot we’d like to do and less and less money each year to get things done.
“We understand people are fed up and we’re doing our best. The agenda of actions has been halved.”
He added: “We need to get many more people round the table at community councils. If not, they can’t carry on.”