Councillors agree £90,000 funding for next phase of Wick River Campsite improvements
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Wick River Campsite has taken another step towards achieving its full potential as a community asset after being awarded £90,000 in Community Regeneration Funding.
The application from Wick Development Trust, which is operating the riverside site as a community enterprise, was agreed by members of Highland Council's Caithness area committee.
The money will go towards phase two of the trust's overall development plan, with this phase focusing on the development of a facilities block including modern toilets, showers and laundry.
The new block is projected to cost more than £450,000 and will replace the existing prefabricated building which is said to be no longer fit for purpose and "not meeting visitor expectations".
The campsite officially reopened under the trust's management in June 2022 after terms were agreed with the council for the lease. Profits will ultimately go towards local regeneration efforts after a three-year upgrading plan.
Councillor Ron Gunn, chairman of the area committee, said: “My ward colleagues and I are delighted to be able to support the work of Wick Development Trust with this funding. In recent years, the trust was successful in its bid to take over the running of the site as a not-for-profit enterprise, with a three-phase plan to bring the site up to a modern and fit-for-purpose standard as a visitor facility.
"Work on phase two of the plan will be due to start in November once other match funding is in place. The project will deliver a new toilet and facilities building including showers, accessible toilet/shower room, family shower room, laundry and wash-up area, all with energy efficiency and net-zero ambitions at the forefront of design.”
Wick Development Trust project officer Sarah Lamb said: “This is such welcome news and we’d like to thank Highland Council for its support. Having this funding approved is our first step in securing a full funding package for the works.
"We will know the outcome of our applications to various other funding pots over the next few weeks, so fingers crossed all going well we will be able to start the works as planned in November.
"Once the new building is complete, we will have one of the best campsite facilities in Highland and it is sure to have a positive impact on visitor numbers which will be fantastic for the town. And that’s what it's all about – the campsite reaching its full potential as a community asset that benefits the local community.
"While initial profits are being re-invested into modernising the campsite as part of the three-phase development plan, all future profits will be re-invested into town centre regeneration and community projects to benefit the town.”
Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for a number of funds that are available for communities or organisations to access in the region. It comprises the Highland Coastal Communities Fund and the Place Based Investment Programme, both of which are Scottish Government funding streams to support economic regeneration and sustainable development, and the UK government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
A survey by the development trust found that visitors staying at Wick River Campsite this year will have contributed well over £600,000 to the local economy by the end of the season.
Support to the trust has been provided by Alistair Jack, development trust support officer at Caithness Voluntary Group.
