Mixed picture on health of Thurso and Wick according to new Highland Council survey
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A 'Town Centre Health Check' by Highland Council provides a mixed picture on the health and attractiveness of Thurso and Wick town centres.
Wick, the report published on Monday says, "can be considered one of the less healthier town centres which have been assessed as part of this study".
Vacancy rates for businesses in the town centre increased from 15.4 per cent in 2018 to 24.5 per cent in 2022.
Along with other town centres across the Highlands, Wick was assessed through a combination of surveyor assessments and public survey.
It achieved an aggregated score of just 29 out of 55 from the former, the lowest of all town centres included in the study.
That said, it did score a full 5/5 score for parking – though that contrasted sharply with just 1/5 for cycling facilities.
In the public survey, "Accessibility" scored the highest out of the five categories with 89 out of a possible 100.
Next, "Safety and Security" scored 81, "Pavements and Streets" scored 57, "Evening Economy" scored 54 and "Retail" scored 33.
The town centre scored 314 out of a possible total of 500, giving Wick a 62.8 per cent public satisfaction rating.
Thurso's town centre's results were described as "fairly mixed".
Vacancy rates increased from 7.4 per cent in 2018 to 13.5 per cent in 2022.
The town scored relatively well in the surveyor's on-site qualitative assessment, with an aggregated score of 42 out of 55 including a 5/5 score for Safety and Security.
In the public survey, "Safety and Security" scored the highest out of the five categories with 89 out of a possible 100.
Next, "Accessibility" scored 87, "Pavements and Streets" scored 73 and both "Retail" and "Evening Economy" scored 65.
The town centre scored 379 out of a possible total of 500, giving Thurso a 75.8 per cent public satisfaction rating.
Chairman of Highland Council's economy and infrastructure committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: “Checking the strength and vitality of our town centres is essential to enable better decision and policy making.
“By presenting detailed information and analysis of the data collected alongside a commentary on each location allows a range of users to access information relevant to them."
You can access the full report, including assessments of town centres across the Highlands, here
