Street designs for Wick High Street to go on display
Designs for the pedestrian area in Wick High Street will be made public next week at a drop-in session hosted by Highland Council.
The detailed designs follow the concept work done to create a more welcoming public space in the town centre.
The local authority will be looking for feedback from the public about its designs so that it can finalise the designs and secure funding for the work.
The pedestrian zone covers part of the High Street and the Bridge Street/High Street junction, which is part of the wider regeneration of Wick town centre.
Councillor Raymond Bremner, council leader and Wick and East Caithness ward member, said: “I want to thank everyone who has come along to the various consultation events and provided feedback to help us get to this stage.
“The designs capture the aspirations of the community and what is proposed will really give the town centre a lift and make it a more welcoming and attractive place for people to spend time in.
“The drop-in session next Friday is a great chance for folk to come along to look at the drawings and ask questions of the project team.”
The project began in 2019 when Highland Council in partnership with Tthe Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council and Caithness Community Partnership applied to Sustrans Scotland for funding for a collaborative design process through the Street Design Programme.
The project team was led by Sustrans’ Street Design team, in partnership with Highland Council.
The concept designs, developed collaboratively with the local community, aimed to create welcoming and more attractive public spaces; a comfortable and safe environment to walk, wheel and cycle; better travel experiences through Wick town centre – particularly when accessing local facilities; and a sense of identity for the town centre in Wick, drawing on local culture and heritage.
Following completion of the concept stage, a further successful bid for funding was made to the Sustrans Places for Everyone programme. This has allowed the council to take the ideas from the concept phase and work them into a detailed design which can be used to tender for construction works.
Design details will be on display in the foyer of Caithness House on Friday, March 31, from 11am to 4pm, and staff will be on hand to discuss the project.
Construction on the project could start before the end of the year if there is a positive response and subject to a successful funding bid.