GILLS HARBOUR Ltd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

12th June 2022

GILLS HARBOUR Ltd - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING at JOHN O'GROATS VILLAGE HALL, MONDAY JUNE 13th @ 7.30 PM.

GILLS HARBOUR IS THE ONLY OFFICIALLY-RECOGNISED 'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREA' IN NE CAITHNESS.

The AGM is being held on Monday13.06.2022 evening at 19.30 for the Canisbay community company that owns and operates Gills Harbour. It also leases part of its foreshore property to the commercial sea-transport family-owned business Pentland Ferries Ltd.

The legal owners of the harbour are all persons on the electoral register on the North coast of Canisbay parish, from John O'Groats to West Mey.

It is run by a group of volunteers who can come from anywhere in Caithness, Those with practical skills in marine operations, running or contributing to successful small businesses, or those who have/or had posts in the Civil Service, local or national Governments or in the Trade Union movement are particularly welcome. (There is a modest 'honorarium' paid to GHL's treasurer, on account of extra works incurred by billing visiting users).

After a period of slowdown caused by the Covid plague outbreak and the lower pace of progress on the tidal stream energy 'demonstration' turbines emplaced in the Pentland Firth's Inner Sound just 1.5 miles off the Gills pierhead, , the local company is keen to get back up to full speed as soon as possible. Its directors have to ensure that its facilities comply with UK Government HSE laws at all times.

The 135 metre long Gills Pier was constructed over a century ago to provide facilities that would give local people and opportunity to start in business for themselves or with additional employee(s) that would give a boost to the local economy. That was in the days of sailing 'yoles'. Now GHL directors/members believe in ensuring that a 21st C 'equivalent'. is in place That means being able to cater for rectangular steel work-boats called multi-cats, typically of c. 26 metre length X 12 m, beam/breadth X 2 metres depth .

In recent years your GHL directors have commissioned practical studies from graduate staff at Thurso's Environmental Research Institute who ... with the help of director William Simpson ... who did detailed sea-survey works on water-depths and wave directions in varying conditions to produce a set of safe blueprints for developing its Inner Basin. This will involve providing year-round 24/7 safe shelter for floating vessels of up to the 26 m 'multi-cat' class with dredging to allow all-times floating of c. 2 metres with entry and egress at all states of the tide..

In parallel with the above, GHL's directors asked well-known economist Tony \Mackay ... whose family background is in Caithness .and he recommended a three-way means of being able to achieve the above goals. .

There are now positive indications that the above project will succeed. during the next few years.

The AGM will be followed by a short normal meeting of directors/members.

I do hope that you can attend.

GHLis keen to have more female representation encouraged.

Best Wishes

BILL MOWAT (Former Chairman, GHL)