Leaving Nigg mothballed can't be an option - Thurso

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jun 2010

A group of locally based businesses have today announced their ambitious plans for the revival of Nigg yard. The yard has remained idle for years now as previous attempts to get it up and running again have struggled to overcome the issues of the expense of public purchase and the weighty commitments of the lease.

The proposals would see the group of businesses (a sub-group of the Cromarty Firth Users' Association) take on the yard and lease obligations and develop the yard as a key player in the energy sector.

John Thurso said: "Nigg yard is a vital asset which needs to be in operation now to take advantage of the many opportunities which are coming from marine energy investment and from ongoing sub sea operations in the oil and gas industry. In use it will sustain enterprise and create local jobs and wealth. Leaving it mothballed must not be an option.

"I therefore welcome the initiative by CFPUA to put the yard back into use. This proposal by a group of well-established local companies who have extensive experience in this kind of operation is imaginative and well conceived and, if successful, will be a significant boost to quality employment in Easter Ross. I will therefore assist in any way I can in helping to turn this sound concept into reality."