Shout out for volunteers for Summer Spruce Up event planned for Wick

Wick's community council praised the town's selfless volunteers ahead of a planned day of work to spruce up the streets ahead of the upcoming gala week.

The chairperson of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC), Joanna Coghill, announced a date for the "kick-start" of ancillary works in the town – Tuesday, July 19.

After the July meeting of RBWCC, Mrs Coghill said: "It has been talked about for so long but as a community council we are pushing and pushing. One member has set a date for a clean-up, July 19 – this is the Allan Bruce initiative in readiness for the gala and I thanked him for this.

"His input to the community council and our community is to be applauded. With this tidy-up, it just goes to show the many volunteers we have here in our town – Wick works weil."

Mrs Coghill said the community council hopes the event will prove to be "a kick-start for the ancillary works programme" planned for Wick and that RBWCC is working closely with Highland Council departments. RBWCC is also working on another idea for empty shop windows, she added.

Mr Bruce said: "I have had a good response so far from people expressing an interest in helping out. Wick Paths Group has agreed to tidy up around the fountain area and the rest of us will be concentrating on the town centre and the lanes leading from it.

"I would also encourage people and businesses, if they can’t make it along, to do their bit by giving a tidy-up to the area outside or around their houses or premises."

Mr Bruce said the "Summer Spruce Up" will follow on from the success of the Scottish Spring Clean events in the town. "This event is timed to coincide with the run-up to the town's gala week, which is making a return after an enforced absence of two years, and we want to make sure our town is looking its best for both locals and the many visitors that will be coming.

"There will be a variety of jobs that we will be looking to undertake. These include litter-picking, sweeping, washing, weeding, painting and much, much more. There will be a job for all abilities and anyone that wishes to volunteer."

Job sheets will be made available for helping allocate tasks to groups or individuals. If those that will definitely be coming to lend a helping hand could let Mr Bruce know beforehand he says it will make things run smoother on the night.

Volunteers should meet at the riverside car park (opposite the Norseman Hotel) at 6.30pm on Tuesday, July 19.

If anyone has any questions, contact Allan Bruce on 07789 555132 or by email at allan.bruce2@btinternet.com

"Working together we can make a real difference to our town," Mr Bruce added.

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