Photo plan for empty shops in Thurso to make town centre more attractive
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A BID to make the centre of Thurso more attractive has been launched with plans to instal large, high quality, scenic photos of Caithness in empty shop windows.
The cost of the project is estimated to be around £5000 and involve a number of vacant premises, Thurso Community Council has been told.
A sub-group of members was formed earlier in the year to look at ways of tidying up the town centre and make it more attractive for locals and tourists.
It was stated that about 30 photos about two-metres wide could be installed in empty shop windows, featuring various Caithness areas in an effort to make the buildings more appealing.
At last week's community council meeting, Louise Smith, a member of the sub-group, explained that she is looking at various sources of funding for the initiative. She asked the community council for £500 – a request which was granted. A photo competition has also been launched to try and attract interest in the project while local business owners are being approached about the proposals.
Ms Smith said the Thurso Town Centre Initiative aims to improve the town centre and its attractions. She said: "The public were asked to attend a discussion before the latest meeting so that they had an opportunity to feed into suggestions for improvements to the area."
Plans are being made to carry out weeding with volunteers being given a specific area to look after. Other proposals are also to be investigated.
Suggestions for improvements and photographs (with the name of the photo and the person who took it) can be emailed to thursocc2024@outlook.com and suggestions to louinscot@aol.com
The closing date for the photo competition is March 31.
It was pointed out that work at the former M&Co building in High Street is "on hold" at the moment and could be a while before it gets underway again. The owner is happy for photos to be placed in the premises in the meantime, it was stated.
The community council expressed concern about the condition of the pavement at the former Clydesdale Bank building in Traill Street. A member of the public described it as "an absolute mess" and claimed nothing is being done to sort it.
"It is dangerous the way it is, especially for people with mobility problems or bad eye sight," she said.
Thurso and Northwest Caithness Highland councillor, Matthew Reiss, agreed and said: "The pavement is not in a good condition." It was damaged when masonry fell off the roof of the building last May.
BEAR Scotland and Highland Council have been contacted about the problem.
