Community councillors call for tidy-up at High Street site
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Wick community councillors are requesting a tidy-up at an unsightly piece of land in the town centre where an eyesore building was demolished more than three-and-a-half years ago.
They agreed this week to write to the proprietor of the Camps Bar about the former Sloans shop site at the eastern end of High Street, between the pub and the corner of Shore Lane.
The Camps Bar now owns the site and Highland Council granted planning permission for a licensed outdoor seating area at a meeting in April last year.
The formal decision notice was issued exactly one year ago, on May 10, 2023, with the area planning manager pointing out that the development must commence within three years or the planning permission will lapse.
The proposed seating area has yet to take shape. Inside the fenced-off site, clearly visible to passers-by, are what appear to be pieces of rubble on two levels along with patches of weeds, a few metal panels and some litter such as empty plastic bottles.
The former Sloans building was one of Wick’s most prominent eyesores until it was flattened in September 2020. It was hoped that the site, along with the former Dominoes nightclub at the western end of High Street, would be redeveloped as part of the regeneration of Wick town centre.
Concerns about the appearance of the site beside the Camps Bar emerged at the May meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council.
Chairman Allan Farquhar left the room while the discussion was in progress due to what he described as a conflict of interest. Mr Farquhar is a friend of the bar’s proprietor, Callum Reid.
Community councillor David Dunnett took issue with the choice of fencing, noting that there were “fences lying every way”.
Another member, Eswyl Fell, summed it up in four words: “Ironically, Sloans looked better.”
Vice-chairman Allan Bruce suggested that a letter be sent from RBWCC asking Mr Reid if he would be willing to tidy up the site if the plans for a licensed outdoor seating area have become “stalled” for any reason.
Mr Bruce said: “If everybody around the table is agreeable, we will approach him as a community council, as we have done in the past with other premises.”
Members agreed that a letter should be sent.
Mr Bruce added: “Unfortunately, when it comes to premises like that, he is not alone in the town.”
Community councillor Alastair Ferrier pointed out: “At least he is open for business. If you go back a few years, Callum spent a long time gutting and renovating his properties.”
Highland Council accessed grant aid from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and Town Centre Fund for the two High Street demolitions. The funding was provided to the Highland Housing Alliance (HHA) to acquire both properties and land and manage the process.
Speaking in 2020, HHA’s Gail Matheson said: “Nobody likes to see derelict buildings on the High Street, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Highland Council and the Wick Development Trust to safely remove these eyesores.
“The cleared sites will present some great redevelopment opportunities.”
