Development trust poised to take over running of Wick caravan and camping site
Wick Development Trust is poised to take over the running of the town's caravan and camping site in time for the main tourist season.
The intention is to operate the facility as a community enterprise, with profits ultimately going towards local regeneration projects.
Highland Council has been seeking new operators for the popular riverside site after the couple who ran it for the past 15 years, Tricia and William Miller, decided to retire.
The development trust announced this week that it has tendered a bid to the council to lease the site. The bid has been progressed by the local authority and the site is currently under offer, awaiting final arrangements and signing of the lease by the trust.
It is hoped that the site will be open for business in early June. The trust says it will be recruiting locally and nationally for wardens.
The trust is working on a new website and booking system and hopes to have these up and running by the middle of this month.
Trust chairman Jonathan Miller said: "We are delighted to have been given this opportunity by Highland Council. It’s a very exciting project for the trust.
"It is our intention to run the site as a community enterprise where, following initial reinvestment into the site to improve the facilities, all profits will be used to help fund community projects for the regeneration of Wick."
Wick is on the North Coast 500 route and Mr Miller underlined the importance of tourism to the local economy.
"The importance of Wick caravan and camping site cannot be overstated," he said. "As the sole dedicated site in Wick for campervans, motorhomes, caravans and campers it is imperative that the site is operating throughout the tourist season.
"There is a high demand for this type of facility in Caithness, and if Wick was not able to offer this to tourists the impact on the town's economy would be felt by many.
"The tourism industry is a large part of the summer economy of the town, and the tourists who use this site are a major part of that. It’s a beautiful, mature site in a stunning location that many people have enjoyed over the years and we look forward to continuing that tradition for the benefit of everyone in and around the town."
Support has been provided by Alistair Jack, Caithness Voluntary Group's development trust support officer.
In January, Tricia and William Miller said they were looking forward to having more time to themselves after working long hours seven days a week throughout the summer months.