Wick roadworks will aid streetwalkers, dancers and pipers ahead of Gala Week parade, says town provost
Wick’s provost talked of her delight in seeing how road resurfacing works have progressed in Wick ahead of the Gala Week parade on Saturday.
Provost Jan McEwan, councillor for Wick and East Caithness, had previously talked about the potential dangers potholes posed for streetwalkers and dancers during the parade of floats through the centre of town.
“It’s amazing to see the work done on the roads,” said Provost McEwan.
“It’s going right up the Cliff [Cliff Road] to the traffic lights [at Francis Street junction]. The area from the traffic lights out to the South Road is BEAR Scotland’s remit and it’s hoped that will be getting done in September. That’ll be the roads done right through the town and it’ll be delightful to see.”
She added: “I’m glad it’s all being completed before Gala Week for the majorettes, the pipers, streetwalkers and collectors. They’re putting double yellow lines down and that’s good as well. I’m totally chuffed to bits!”
She pointed out that there are a number of other pothole-riddled roads in the town getting fixed at the same time. A funding package was approved at a Highland Council meeting earlier this year to upgrade road infrastructure throughout the county.
Fellow councillor for the ward, Raymond Bremner added: “The resurfacing of the area from the entrance to the Industrial Estate to Cliff Road in Wick has been long awaited and has taken some time to plan. I'm delighted that it has all now become a reality. I was keen that we looked at a full resurface of the road rather than patches.”
Cllr Bremner said that the allocation of about £3.2M of capital funding for the Caithness over a year “has helped provide for the cost of the project” which comes in at between £0.4M and £0.5M. He also pointed out that the usual base budget for Caithness of £600k would never have covered the price of this work.
Highland Council is set to repair a number of the road surfaces in Wick this year including Glamis Rd, Leith Walk, the junction between Willowbank and Girnigoe St and areas around Pulteneytown including Loch St, Kinnaird St, Argyle Sq, Carnaby Rd and Old Wick Rd, Roxburgh Rd, Harrow Hill along with various others.
