Award for paths group after upgrading of Wick riverside footbridges
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Volunteers who upgraded two popular footbridges at Wick’s riverside last summer have been honoured in a Highland-wide award scheme for community groups.
Wick Paths Group won the Community Initiative category of the Highland Third Sector Awards in recognition of the work carried out on the popular Coghill bridges, which might otherwise have had to be closed to the public due to safety worries.
The awards are run by the Dingwall-based Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI) and billed as the region's flagship ceremony for volunteers and community organisations. The paths group was among several winners from Caithness when they awards were announced online on Thursday night.
The project at the Coghill bridges was completed over two weekends in August. The work included replacing rotting deck timbers and clamps for railing supports, laying new non-slip fibreglass walkways and painting the railings.
John Bogle, secretary of Wick Paths Group, said: "I am delighted that the hard work of the volunteers on the Coghill bridges has been officially recognised in this way. The project was the biggest that Wick Paths Group has undertaken and required a high degree of technical skill from many of the volunteers – all very ably co-ordinated and managed by our project lead, Willie Watt.
"In addition to the many hours put in by the volunteers we also had fantastic support from local businesses who provided free or discounted materials and refreshments for the volunteers.
"The bridges look really good now and are so much safer than before. It is not until you look back at the 'before and after' photos that you realise just what an improvement it has been."
Mr Watt said: "This is fantastic recognition for all the hard work and effort that the team has put in over the years to maintain and improve the paths around Wick.
"As we all know, Covid-19 has made life so difficult. However, walks and pathways provide a much-needed feelgood factor that makes this 'new' life much more bearable.
"The Coghill bridges were very near to closure. They are important links on the circular routes around town, used by hundreds daily, and the thought of this closure drove Wick Paths Group to come up with an innovative, robust and low-cost solution to protect these vital structures and keep this much-loved walk available to all."
The main Coghill bridge, built in 1893, was gifted to the people of Wick by Harry Coghill who donated the crossing as a tribute to the place of his birth.
The paths group is a subcommittee of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council with its own structure and office-bearers.
Since forming in the autumn of 2017 the group has carried out several upgrading projects around Wick, including the paths at the North Head, the Castle of Old Wick, March Road and the Braehead, as well as the one from the coastguard station to Bexley Terrace.
There has been regular weed-killing on paths, while interpretive panels have been manufactured for the North Head and South Head routes. Members have also cleared and marked a path to the General Horne memorial cross in Stirkoke Wood.
The group recently received a donation of £1000 from the North Highland Initiative which will be used to further upgrade the North Head path when the weather improves and Covid restrictions are eased. Members are also working with others to improve the area around the fountain at Wick riverside.
The county-wide community response to the pandemic was recognised with the Caithness Covid Resilience Group receiving the HTSI award for Community Cohesion Champion.
Allan Tait, senior development officer at Caithness Voluntary Group (CVG), said: "I am delighted that the resilience group has been recognised in this way.
"It started in March 2020 with the team at CVG coordinating 10 community organisations throughout the county who agreed to provide support around providing food, shopping and prescriptions to the most vulnerable in their areas.
"The group met weekly in the first lockdown as we grappled with an ever-changing situation. We shared information, tried to reassure everyone that help was available and got support from a wide range of other organisations as the year went on.
"The group continues to meet, looking to address the issues facing the community around mental health, isolation and poverty, and working to improve things in the future."
There was a triple success for Thurso Community Development Trust with awards for Joan Lawrie (Outstanding Achievement), Marion O’Brien (Volunteer of the Year) and Hannah Rosie (Youth Volunteer of the Year) for their efforts in supporting the community throughout the pandemic.
Award winners:
- HTSI Team Member of the Year: Roy Anderson
- HTSI Team Partner: Speedprint
- LGOWIT Self-Management Excellence Award: Tracy Collins
- Highland Community Justice Partnership Excellence Award: Apex Highland
- Covid Response Volunteer: Heather Fraser
- Community Cohesion Champion: Caithness Covid Resilience Group
- Covid Community Welfare Champion: Mikeysline
- Community Initiative: Wick Paths Group and Community Mental Health Support, Scourie Community Development Company
- Highland Partnership: National Autistic Society, CHIP+ and HC Pines Training Team
- Board Trustee of the Year: Cathy Christie and Patsy Rimell
- Social Enterprise of the Year: Highland Blindcraft
- Volunteer of the Year: Marion O’Brien
- Outstanding Achievement: Joan Lawrie
- Youth Volunteer of the Year: Hannah Rosie and Keegan Campbell
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Gillian Newman
- Judges' Recognition: Here to Help, Grantown-on-Spey
- Third Sector Organisation of the Year: Lochaber Hope
Volunteers complete upgrading of Wick riverside footbridges
