INVERGORDON COMMUNITY COUNCILLOR QUESTIONS HIGHLAND COUNCIL OFFICIAL'S BENZENE FINDINGS IN JOSS STREET

CASTING DOUBTS

Invergordon community councillor, Mr Benny Mackay said in an interview with your editor that he was the very first Morrison worker on, what is now the Joss Street flats site, way back in the 1960s.

He clearly recalls the excavations for the flat’s founds and how the JCB driver, Mr David Ross from Geanies, Fearn, reported a ‘hole’ when excavating the trench for the west block’s concrete foundation.

What the JCB operator found was a relatively small circle of land, encompassing part of the foundation trench wherein in the building trade it is customary to ‘pour concrete’ as a foundation base. The ‘hole’ had obviously been filled in at one time or another as it was completely different to the surrounding land and the ‘hard pan’ was missing.

This was reported to the company’s engineers and it was found necessary to reinforce that part of the foundations before work could commence on the pouring and building side.

According to the C. C. the only part of the now established block that encroached on this phenomenon were the two flats on the north east corner of the west block. One of these was occupied by Mr John Ross for some 30 years. Mr Ross is now happily living elsewhere in Ross & Cromarty, without apparent undue affects from the three decades he spent in Joss street.

Mr Mackay also stated that the extracted ground, including that from the so called ‘hole’, was piled up in a heap at the rear of the construction site and later spread out over what is now the flat’s garden area. He doubts very much if in fact there is any other part of the buildings erected directly over what must have been the actual gasometer, other than the aforementioned north east end flats.

Your editor has questioned, by letter, the Highland Council’s scientific officer, Mr Anthony Carson relating the extent of, and to his analysis of the situation. If in fact the site at Joss Street poses a health problem to residents your editor questions the wisdom of permitting a huge retail establishment to be built on the former site of the town of Dingwall, namely the Tesco supermarket.

When Mr Carson provides the data requested, the ‘Highlander’ will be able to draw comparisons and conclusions, between the possible threat, if any, to ‘new’ Tesco development and the council’s findings and proposals for Joss Street.

Invergordon Community Council Chairman, Donald Mackenzie, said that he was concerned over the Joss Street issue but was pleased that Highland Council are addressing the problem in a responsible manner.

Your editor too is concerned and questions whether there is a hidden agenda in the ‘pile’ of the old 1921 demolished town gasworks rubble?