Jamie Stone urges candidates to share urgency in tackling ‘devastating’ loss of community space in Milnafua
Jamie Stone, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross in the upcoming general election, is urging which whichever candidate is successful on July 4 to galvanise action to get it rebuilt and back in use again.
Mr Stone paid a visit to the remains of the building that was once used as a community hall in Milnafua earlier this week.
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Whilst in office, Mr Stone was working with councillor Pauline Munro, an independent councillor for Cromarty Firth, to help release the hall from a debt for which it should never have been liable.
The intention was to get the hall back up and running as a community space once this was achieved.
On June 4, it was reported that the building had caught fire and burned down.
Mr Stone said: “Before the General Election was called, my team was back and forth with Business Stream for five months trying to relieve the community hall of a debt for which it should not be liable.
“That is on top of the community group trying for over a year themselves. It is frustrating to see the efforts of extremely hard-working councillors like Pauline Munro met with a brick wall of silence.
“For a problem which has a very simple solution, the consequences are substantial. This should be a hub for the people of Milnafua to gather and seek support, and now it is burned to the ground. It is a terrible shame, and I join the community in devastation.
“The people of Milnafua often feel left behind and forgotten. This incident does that feeling no favours. I hope that I and my team can see this through and get the support necessary to get this place back on its feet.
“If another candidate wins on July 4, then I hope they share the same urgency to galvanise the action needed.”
