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Councillors agree to extend conservation boundary with aim of 'bringing people back to Pulteneytown'


By Ali Morrison

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The Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan map of the Pulteneytown area.
The Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan map of the Pulteneytown area.

Caithness councillors have agreed to extend the boundary of the Pulteneytown conservation area as part of a plan to bring that part of Wick "back to life".

The issue was discussed by members of Highland Council's Caithness Committee on Thursday after they saw a 226-page report in which planning officers examined the distinctive character of the area.

One councillor asked about the potential impact of restrictions on planning permission but was assured that the new Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (CAMP) was about "sensitive and appropriate development" rather than restricting people.

Council officers also confirmed that Thurso's conservation area will be “next on the list” for a management plan.

Thomas Telford's Pulteneytown is thought to be the earliest planned industrial area in Scotland and the harbour grew to become the largest herring port in Europe.

The report describes Pulteneytown as Telford’s only fully executed town plan for the British Fisheries Society, "and its most successful investment".

The document highlights the integrity of the conservation area, the construction methods and the locally quarried stone.

In recognition of the area’s national significance, members agreed to enlarge the boundary. The proposed CAMP includes several more streets of architectural prominence to the south and east of the existing plan.

Following a period of public consultation, the council has recommended against including Wick harbour in the revised boundary. Wick Harbour Authority had raised concern that being part of the conservation area could hamper its development plans.

Councillor Raymond Bremner (Wick and East Caithness) asked how much discussion had taken place around potential planning permission restrictions arising from the extended conservation area.

Conservation officer Andrew Puls emphasised that the CAMP was not about restricting people.

He said: “It’s about sensitive and appropriate development, but ultimately bringing people back to Pulteneytown. We want to bring the area back to life and galvanise the community.”

Mr Puls went on to highlight the “invaluable” involvement of the community stakeholder group in creating the plan.

He said that bringing local people into the discussion from the beginning had been so successful that the team intends to take this approach with future consultations wherever possible.

In particular, he highlighted the “extraordinary” knowledge and expertise of the Wick Society, the voluntary group that runs Wick Heritage Museum.

He said the decision to exclude Wick harbour was a pragmatic one from officers.

Councillor Bremner said: “I’m happy that there’s a good balance here now between conserving the area and not hampering progress and development.”

Councillor Matthew Reiss (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) paid tribute to the regeneration of the harbour area and the efforts of the Wick Society.

He said: “When I first came to Wick in 1985 I lived in Saltoun Street [in Lower Pulteneytown], so I found this a really interesting report.

“You’re right on the North Coast 500 route and you have this incredible heritage – it’s a great place. I wish Wickers well with this project.”

The proposal to extend the conservation area in Wick will now go to the council’s economy committee on September 1 for agreement.


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