‘Wick is due a much-needed revamp’ – welcome for £2.1m cash injection of town centre
Community councillors in Wick are eager to see works on the £2.1 million transformation of the town centre get under way.
A project to reinvigorate High Street was awarded the money for the long-awaited scheme earlier this week through a Scottish Government active travel fund.
It will see the main pedestrian zone in the town get new paving along with planters, seating and improved lighting. There will also be changes to the junction with Bridge Street to make it more pedestrian friendly at the crossing point.
It also includes completion of the traffic management system related to the rising bollards currently being installed at either end of the pedestrian area.
All the works must be complete by the end of March 2026 as part of the funding through the 2025-26 Tier 2 Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, operated by Transport Scotland. The Wick Street Design project was initially instigated through a different active travel fund then operated through Sustrans.
Joanna Coghill, treasurer of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council, said they had been involved in the project since the idea was first mooted.
“Its been a slog, a very long wait and, to be honest, we had nearly given up hope but this was a good news day for the town,” she said.
“We are delighted, our town centre is due a much-needed revamp and brightening up, and this will tick all the boxes to make it more appealing, hopefully encourage and attract more businesses and be pedestrian friendly – which we hope will encourage footfall, locals and visitors to explore our wee corner of the Highlands.
“We worked closely with Raymond alongside a number of Highland Council departments to get the bids in at the various stages and formed a great relationship. We are now really looking forward to seeing final designs and works getting started.”
Highland Council said the final drawings and tender documents were being worked on by its team in Golspie.
A spokesperson explained: “The Wick Street Design project began with a consultation process carried out by Sustrans following a successful funding bid by a partnership including Highland Council, the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council and Caithness Community Partnership.
“The project team worked collaboratively with the local community of Wick between September 2019 and October 2020 to develop a concept design to make improvements to the town centre, which included the installation of rising bollards in the pedestrian zone.
“Highland Council then secured funding from Sustrans to progress the project to detailed design stage.
“Transport Scotland awarded Highland Council construction funding from the 2024-25 Tier 2 Active Travel Infrastructure Fund in November last year, specifically for the rising bollards and these are now being installed in the Wick High Street pedestrian zone.
“Wick Street Design is included in Transport Scotland’s project funding from the 2025-26 Tier 2 Active Travel Infrastructure Fund.
“The design team in Golspie is now working on finalising the tender documents and drawings and these will be issued in due course.
“The stage of the design for the pedestrian zone includes new paving, seating and planting as well as the realignment of the roadway. The design for the Bridge Street/High Street junction includes footway widening, raised pedestrian crossings and new traffic signals.”
Council leader and Wick and East Caithness councillor Raymond Bremner told the Caithness Courier earlier this week that the project would make the town centre look “so much better and so much more appealing” and hopefully attract more people and businesses into Wick.