Extra £28,000 funding for Thurso and Wick town centre schemes
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THURSO has been awarded an additional £28,000 to help regenerate its town centre. The money has been allocated by the Scottish Government to top-up earlier funding and was welcomed by local community councillors. A similar sum has been given to Wick.
Councillor Struan Mackie, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness on Highland Council, is delighted the extra funding has been granted to both towns but stressed the money has to be spent by the middle of the month.
Speaking at a virtual meeting of Thurso Community Council, Councillor Mackie, who is the town provost, said: "Although this additional funding of just over £28,000 is welcome, it has come with a very tight turnaround window, with the money being announced just before the Christmas period and having to be spent by mid-February."
He explained that the Thurso Highland councillors are working in partnership with Thurso Community Council, Thurso Community Development Trust and a number of volunteer groups, to seek projects that will support the regeneration scheme.
Mr Mackie said: "I believe Thurso has an attractive town centre with a healthy selection of independent shops that well serve residents and visitors alike but the impact of Covid-19 is a very obvious focus.
"Projects that help support local traders increase footfall in the town centre while maintaining government guidance on distancing will be looked on favourably by councillors as well as proposals that help promote the towns unique identity.
"With the announcement that the North Coast Visitor Centre [formerly Caithness Horizons] is committed to reopening when safe to do so, efforts to promote this vital asset are also featuring in the thoughts of councillors. We understand signage in the town for visitors can sometimes be confusing and in more than one instance signs actually direct people to premises that no longer exist. We want to ensure our signage is helpful and not a hindrance, particularly as the country recovers from the effects of Covid-19."
He also stressed the group is open to suggestions from the public about how the additional funding can be used.
His Thurso Highland Council colleague, Councillor Karl Rosie, wondered if the telephone kiosk beside the North Coast Visitor Centre could be refurbished and was told plans are being made to do that.
Community councillor Elspeth Husband said the box could be used to house a defibrillator – a suggestion which was backed by chairman Ron Gunn. "That is a good idea," he said.
