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This is a website thrown together in haste to highlight the impact of the proposed new buildings at Nicolson Engineering, Bower (or is it Bowermadden, like on the sign?). The first anyone knew of Jim Nicolson's plans to erect what could be described as an aircraft hanger on our doorsteps was when notification plopped through the letterbox of the two immediate neighbours, the Mackays and the Sewells. The question is does the village of Bower need this industrial development? The village is, despite an apparently unchecked house-building frenzy, still characterised by fields of sheep, cows and various vegetables. The industry is there: primarily we have the Norscot house-building factory and Nicolson Engineering. Norscot is composed of low-bay workshops in dark brown steel. Nicolson started in the old Smiddy (Smithy) and has been adding low-bay workshops in shiny silver coloured steel, two in the last few years. One on the east of the road, then he expanded across the road, turning what was a small car park into a large yard with a low-bay 'store'. This store was supposed to clear the scrapheap of rubbish that had been accumulating, but instead the rubbish seems to have remained and it's not clear whether there is stuff being stored in the 'store' or whether it is another workshop. Any developments to date have now been dwarfed by a planning application for three more buildings on the west of the road. Another low-bay workshop is to be added behind the first. Next to these is to stand, if Nicolson has his way, a building that is 15% larger in volume than the controversial Test, Training and Trials facility built on the Janetstown industrial estate by Highlands and Island Enterprise and leased by JGC Technical Services (Jock Campbell) of Harpsdale. And there's the nub of the argument. Sheep for sleepy rural villages. Gigantic workshops for urban (or what passes for urban in Caithness) industrial estates. Wick for instance. Or Castletown. Or Thurso. So what about the jobs? Everyone knows that the Dounreay nuclear site is going to wind down in 10, 15, or so years. So is this the answer to long-term employment in the far north of Scotland? What is Nicolson Engineering going to build in their new fabrication workshop? He wasn't going to tell us, but now it seems he has been pricked into action. On the 15th December Nicolson Engineering is having an open day to tell us his plans and share his vision. Thanks, but too late really! Is he going to compensate us neighbours for the probable 30% loss of house value? Unlikely. If the answer is fabrications for the oil industry in Aberdeen then, yes, they are going through an investment boom but it is unlikely to last as long as Dounreay peak employment, let alone soak up those being laid off. What about the environment? The site of the proposed new workshops is on a flood plain. Building there will decrease the land available to soak up rain, increasing the risk of flooding to houses that were surrounded (and some inundated) by water last October. The burn that runs past the existing workshops is regularly full and the land in the valley swamped. Please click on the links above to look at the pictures. In the computer model the house shown is the Sewells who are the closest being on the west side of the road. Our house and the Mackay's are on the east side so directly overlook the site. These houses can been seen in one of the photos. The photos are paired into before and after the new buildings are erected. The after pictures are computer models using the correct size and perspective. Two of the computer pictures show the new Nicolson main workshop next to the trials building at Janetstown. In one of the computer pictures (the one that first loads) there are three people standing in front of the buildings - if you look closely! They're rather small. What can you do - object! Any objection sent to the Wick planning office by email or post will be considered from anywhere in the world so don't be shy. It doesn't take much effort either. Closing date is 21st December (Mad Friday for those in the locality). Click on the 'Object' link above. The village meeting is this Wednesday (12th) at 7pm in the community hall. All welcome. Robin Herrick, Old Post Office, Bower 10 December 2007 |
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