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Plans afoot to change the face of Thurso





Community forces in Thurso have come together to open dialogue with residents about the future of the town.

This November, Thurso Community Council (TCC) is starting a public consultation “on the future for Thurso” which sits alongside the work of Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) which is looking at its strategy.

A consultation will start at the Socially Growing shop in Thurso. Picture: DGS
A consultation will start at the Socially Growing shop in Thurso. Picture: DGS

The consultation will start with an event in the Socially Growing shop on Rotterdam Street. Thurso Community Councillors will be on hand between 10.30am and 3.30pm on Saturday, November 2 to talk to visitors about their views on the latest Highland Council planning exercise to develop the Highland Local Development Plan. Feeding into this, the council has invited communities to produce Local Place Plans.

Scottish Government introduced Local Place Plans as a way for local communities to think about how to make their place better, to agree priorities, and to take action – often working with others – to make change happen.

Initiatives are afoot to change the face of Thurso for the better. Picture: DGS
Initiatives are afoot to change the face of Thurso for the better. Picture: DGS

TCC is asking the local community for suggestions on how to improve the town. Their recent focus has been on a project, Thurso Town Centre Initiative 2024, which currently includes placing photographs in shop windows, repairing and repainting benches working with Community Payback, weeding, and planters at the esplanade to enhance the beach area.

Funding to support these improvements has been received from Caithness Community Fund, and ScottishPower Renewables’ Halsary Windfarm £2385; Action Earth £250; and from the Highland Council Ward Discretionary Budget £400. Further support has been given by shop owners and Rembrand Timber Thurso.

Thurso Community Council is asking locals for suggestions on how to improve the town. Picture: DGS
Thurso Community Council is asking locals for suggestions on how to improve the town. Picture: DGS

Thurso community councillor and treasurer, Elspeth Husband, said, ‘We are very grateful to our funders and will be looking for further funding to support community town centre projects in Thurso.”

Other potential projects are:

• Signage and information boards – Signage to the beach and other locations, information boards at key locations including Meadow Well, Shore Street, Thurso railway station, the Sir William Alexander Smith Memorial Museum/Boys Brigade Hall.

• Disabled access to Thurso beach including a beach wheelchair and matting.

TCC will also be asking for opinions on these possible projects as well as gathering other suggestions.

Following on from this event, the Local Place Plan information will be available on the TCC Facebook page with this Stage 1 consultation open until Christmas.

Local historic scenes have been sited on shop fronts in Thurso thanks to a new initiative. Picture supplied
Local historic scenes have been sited on shop fronts in Thurso thanks to a new initiative. Picture supplied

Stage 2 consultation will take place in May/June 2025, followed by the production of the following documents:

• Thurso Local Place Plan including areas of land/buildings that should be designated for a certain use, such as car parking, sports field, housing, allotments, community woodland, paths/cycleways, disabled parking spaces, no development.

• Thurso Community Action Plan with actions that should be carried out in Thurso, such as brighten the town with flower planters, add signage to indicate key places such as the beach, add benches in certain locations, include disabled access provision to places like the beach.

Email thursocc2024@outlook.com for further information.


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