'Tremendous community effort' as Wick volunteers tidy up old slipway
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A SMALL army of volunteers turned out with an assortment of spades and wheelbarrows this week to tidy up a neglected corner of Wick.
Almost 30 public-spirited individuals rallied round to support the latest initiative by Wick Paths Group which involved clearing weeds and rubbish from the old slipway area between the Service Bridge and the medical centre.
In recognition of the volunteers’ hard work, the French restaurant situated directly across the river donated a tray of soft drinks to keep everyone refreshed.
Group secretary John Bogle explained that one of the regular volunteers had suggested a clean-up at the site in Martha Terrace after walking past it frequently and noticing the poor state it was in.
“It was such a mess – it’s kind of a forgotten eyesore,” Mr Bogle said. “The rubbish was collecting and it was overgrown, and there was a tree growing very close to the wall.
“There’s a fair bit of history to that slipway. It was a lifeboat slip and there was a shed there at one time.
“And it’s on the route of the John O’Groats Trail. More and more people, including visitors, are walking around the town so we thought we would clear it and try and make it look a bit better.
“Also we are looking at getting an interpretive plaque on the end of the bridge so people will know the history of it.”
More and more people are walking around the town so we thought we would clear it and try and make it look a bit better.
He said the group may seek permission from Highland Council to repaint the railing at the top of the slipway.
“We just wanted to tidy the whole thing up, and we’ll keep an eye on it now that it has been done,” Mr Bogle said.
While up to 25 volunteers were busy at the slipway site, several more had gone off litter-picking on the other side of the river.
“There have been some of the regulars that come to all the paths group projects but there’s a lot of new folk as well,” he said.
“We’d like to thank the French restaurant for donating a tray of Coca-Cola when they saw us hard at work. It was very much appreciated on a lovely warm night.
“The council kindly provided the skip and gloves and bags, which was good, and Simpson’s allowed us the use of the car park which is normally fenced off. That has made a great difference.
“It’s a tremendous community effort by everyone, from young folk to old age pensioners.”
