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Aug 2002 Index

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September 2002

HARBOUR HQ MOVES TO LOCHINVER
The decision to move the new headquarters of The Highland Councils harbour management team to Lochinver, Sutherland, was hailed as a big success by Convener David Green when he opened the Culag Building on Tuesday 3 September 2002.

Councillor Green said the transfer of the base from Inverness to the heart of the fishing industry in Lochinver reflected the Councils commitment to dispersing jobs from the headquarters of the organisation in Inverness.   He said the move was paying dividends through a more effective service to the fishing industry.   The Council had created seven new jobs and had also significantly renovated a two-storey wing of the Culag Hotel into a modern office complex, which also houses the Lochinver Service Point, and offices for social work staff, clerk of works and those of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.  The cost of the renovation was £300,000.

The harbour team oversees a (Pounds)12 million-a-year business from the Culag Building. It operates separately from the seven-strong team of Lochinver Harbourmaster Neil Gudgeon, which is based at the nearby harbour building, opened in September 1992.  Lochinver is the busiest of the Councils 102 harbours and jetties, accounting for more than half of the annual business.

Councillor Green said: "I am delighted to open this splendid new office in Lochinver. The advantages of basing our harbour management team in Lochinver are being clearly demonstrated in our day-to-day business activity.  We are closer to our major clients and suppliers and we are centrally located in relation to our manned harbours.  "As a council we recognise that it is important to spread, as widely as possible, the employment opportunities and spending power that we provide.   When possible, staff involved in central aspects of services will be based at locations throughout the Highlands."

The new harbour management team is led by Tony Usher, the General Manager, who formerly worked for Cumbria County Council as the operations and engineering manager at the port of Workington.   Other members of the team are: Neil Simpson, marine superintendent, Derek Louden, business analyst, Dianne Graham, systems administrator, Anne Cooper, administrative assistant and Julie Matheson and Elaine MacLaren, both clerical assistants.

The Lochinver Service Point is run by Emma Thomas, assisted by Jane Young and Grace Stuart.

Councillor Charlie King, chairman of The Highland Councils Fishery Harbour Management Board, said: "I am delighted that the team has moved to the heart of our fishing enterprise in Lochinver and that we have been able to attract such a high calibre of staff. We are now well placed to maintain an efficient service to the fishing industry and harbour users."

Local Highland Councillor Francis Keith, said: "Basing the harbour management team at Lochinver makes sense and is a great boost to the local economy.   A spin-off benefit is the relocation of the Service Point, our one-stop advice and information centre, from the village to the harbour area, where there is convenient car parking."

Albannach Hotel, Lochinver