Anger And Despair In Caithness As Region Faces Depopulation Crisis

2nd March 2024

The Scottish Government unveiled an action-plan to tackle the issue amid growing fears of widespread school closures.

Despair about reduced maternity services, potholes and a failure to tackle depopulation has turned to anger in Caithness.

There are growing fears of widespread school closures if the exodus of people from the county continues at the current rate - and local patience with the Scottish Government is wearing thin.

Thurso independent councillor Matthew Reiss said: "There have been excuses made, a lot of broken promises. Dualling the A9 is probably the most obvious one.

"But our two health new hubs, in Wick and Thurso, have just been indefinitely postponed or cancelled, although the Scottish Government's word for this is ‘paused."

The coastal town currently has the region's highest rate of depopulation. According to data from Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Caithness is projected to have 2,400 fewer residents within a decade.

See the full STV Story and film HERE