12 December 2006

 

CAITHNESS HORIZONS APPOINTS MARKETING FIRM

Caithness Horizons has this week appointed Shetland based marketing consultants Shaw Marketing and Design Ltd. to develop and implement the pre-opening marketing plan in preparation for opening the new facility in 2008.

 

Isabel Johnson, Director of Shaw, said: “Immediately on reading the project brief, it struck a chord.  Here was a project about a core community asset that had been in danger of becoming extinct.  Living in a similar remote community where people have strong links with each other, are proud of their culture and heritage, and enjoy sharing these experiences with visitors, we instinctively felt a strong desire to be part of this project and are delighted with our appointment.”

 

The Thurso Town Hall refurbishment continues to progress with the main building construction work going out to tender very shortly, with a number of local companies having expressed an interest.

 

Charlie Ingham, venue manager of the prestigious Rutherglen Town Hall redevelopment project, has been continuing to work alongside the project team to impart his valuable knowledge and experience to assist with crucial business decisions for the future.

 

A state of the art geo-thermal drilling rig, the first of its kind in Europe, will shortly be carrying out test bores of up to 300 metres in order to test the level of water beneath the Town Hall site.  The trials are expected to prove a success, allowing plans to go ahead for a sustainable and eco-friendly ground source heat pump heating system.

 

Dr Eleanor Scott MSP, Scottish Green Party, said: “This is an excellent project and excellent example of the use of renewable energy and will help to reduce fuel costs and benefit the environment for years to come.  It`s great to see Caithness leading the way in heating our public buildings sustainably.”

 

The Highland Council are also developing a Pictish trail to Caithness.  Following the brown Pictish signs along the route from Inverness and terminating at Caithness Horizons, this will bring visitors into the area and direct them towards the many relatively undiscovered attractions that Caithness has to offer.

 

Paul Cariss, Caithness Horizons Chairman, said: “As the project develops and we appoint professional companies to work with us, our vision for the future becomes more vivid day by day.  So much effort goes into reaching this stage of ambitious projects such as this one, but it has all been worthwhile as the long term benefits are now starting to emerge."

 

Information regarding the building refurbishment and the project’s progress will be regularly updated on the Caithness Horizons website.  Photographs of some of the Thurso Museum artefacts are also now available on this website.