Help get Wick’s Heart beating
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A NEW development trust created to drive the regeneration of Wick town centre is seeking members.
Wick’s Heart aims to reinstate the town centre as the "heart of the community" and bring it back to life through positive action, according to the interim chair of the body, Wick and East Caithness councillor Nicola Sinclair.
The acronym Heart also embodies the trust’s aims:
- Heritage – highlighting and preserving the town's local history and culture, particularly its maritime links
- Environment – improving the built and natural environment of Wick town centre to make it cleaner, safer and greener for all
- Arts – adding life to the town centre through arts, culture, entertainment and events
- Retail – supporting local businesses through promotion, signposting, events and lobbying
- Tourism – improving tourist services and showcasing local attractions
"Wick’s Heart currently has an interim steering group made up of local business people and community activists," Councillor Sinclair said.
Pat Ramsay of Caithness Foodbank, a director of Wick’s Heart, said: "We want to inject the love back into our town and that comes from our hearts.
"Let’s make a start with the town centre and hopefully this feeling and action will spread throughout our community once again. I am ever hopeful."
Ahead of its first AGM in the spring, Wick’s Heart is appealing for new members to come forward and is launching a community design contest to create a logo.
The contest is open to all ages but schools are requested to submit a maximum of two entries per class.
Entrants are encouraged to get creative and have fun but ultimately create a simple design that encapsulates the idea of regeneration and the High Street as the heart of the town.
The 10 best entries, as judged by the directors, will be submitted to a graphic designer who will use them as inspiration for a final logo.
Ellie Lamont of Mackays Hotel, a director of Wick’s Heart, said: "I’m excited about what the organisation can do to improve the town centre and raise the profile of the town.
"Community involvement is key to the success of our projects and the logo design is the first one. It would be great to see more people get involved and help shape Wick’s Heart into something we all want and love."
Bill Fernie, treasurer of Wick’s Heart and long-time community activist, said: "We all know how difficult it has been for all town centres.
"With the will and enthusiasm Wick can often come up with for projects of all kinds, we will make our town turn around. No more girning – let's do it together."
Anyone who would like to join Wick’s Heart can email Councillor Nicola Sinclair at nicola.sinclair.cllr@highland.gov.uk
The closing date for the logo design competition is Friday, March 27.
Entries can be emailed to Caithness Voluntary Group at mary@cvg.org.uk or posted to Caithness Voluntary Group, Telford House, Williamson Street, Wick, Caithness KW1 5ES.
To find out more about Wick’s Heart visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/wicks.heart/
A website for the trust is under construction.
