Work gets under way on £450,000 facilities block at Wick campsite

Work is under way on the latest stage of a three-year upgrading programme at Wick River Campsite, with the ground being prepared for a modern facilities block costing more than £450,000.

The new structure, including modern toilets, showers and laundry as well as fully accessible facilities, will replace a prefabricated building that was demolished just before Christmas after it was said to be "falling apart" and failing to meet visitors' expectations.

Wick Development Trust is operating the campsite as a community enterprise and profits will ultimately go towards local regeneration efforts.

It had been hoped that work on the new block would begin at the start of November, immediately after the site closed for the 2023 season, but there was a delay over planning permission.

Wick Development Trust project officer Sarah Lamb said: "We've got our funding package in place and the work started on Monday [January 8].

“It was challenging getting the funding together in such a short time, but we did know it was something that had to be urgently replaced.

“We had a successful season in 2023. We had over 12,500 people through the gate, but we did know that our facilities were letting us down and we were getting that feedback from visitors as well – saying 'lovely site, great staff, but the facilities definitely are outdated and are needing renewed'.

“August was our busiest month but September kind of carried on in the same fashion, so we were a lot busier than we expected to be at the end of the season."

Staff from GMR Henderson are carrying out the groundworks, while other local businesses will be responsible for the timber kit construction and the interiors.

"We're using all local suppliers for phase two," Ms Lamb pointed out. "We are delighted that we've managed to get all the local expertise on board for it and that we've been able to support local businesses."

The block is unlikely to be ready for the opening of the 2024 season at the end of April.

“We're going to have a bit of a delayed start," Ms Lamb said. "Typically we would open on April 1 but we're going to hold fire and we'll open on April 29.

"We don't think the toilet block will be fully finished by then, but we do have a contingency in that we'll have temporary facilities in."

Construction lorries are having to access the site via a wide footpath along the southern edge of Wick River that is popular with walkers. This is because of the low railway bridge on the main route leading down from Riverside Drive.

“We have no option but to use the alternative access point because of the low railway bridge," Ms Lamb said.

"We've got construction signs up to advise folk that it is being used for this purpose just now and apologising for the inconvenience. Any damage at all, we will reinstate the path there once works are complete and it'll be back to pristine condition."

Thoughts have already turned to phase three, ideally starting in November, which will involve the replacement of the reception building.

“At this stage we're doing the pre-development work and we've engaged with our architects," Ms Lamb said. "We're just at the initial concept stage, so that's something that we are progressing with as well.

"Again we know there's a lot of work behind that in terms of getting the funding package together.

“We want to replace it with something modern so we'll have a reception area, a small retail space, a workshop and then a multipurpose communal area.

“It's all coming together, but the main thing is that we want the campsite to be operating to its maximum potential as a not-for-profit community enterprise.

“We are having to put initial profit into these projects, phase two and phase three, and once that's done all the profit will then go into town centre regeneration and community benefit."

Wick Development Trust chairman Jonathan Miller said: "We’re delighted to finally get works under way for phase two of the campsite project. This is the most important phase of the whole project, as the existing facilities were very dated and latterly were not really fit for purpose.

"The new facilities building will transform the site and the visitors' experience of staying at the campsite. The modern replacement building will take advantage of many renewable technologies and contribute to our net-zero ambitions for the site as a whole, while providing guests with five-star facilities – ensuring the campsite is a valuable part of the tourism industry in Caithness."

Funders are Highlands and Islands Enterprise Green Fund, Highland Community Regeneration Funding, Dounreay Socio-Economic Fund, Scottish Government CARES (Community and Renewable Energy Scheme), RWE Camster Wind Farm Community Fund and SSE Highland Sustainable Development Fund.

In August it emerged that visitors staying at Wick River Campsite were likely to have contributed well over £600,000 to the local economy by the end of the 2023 season. Analysis by the development trust found that the average spend per travel group was £136.69.

Last May, Mr Miller said Wick River Campsite was on course to be “highly profitable for the town”.

Highland Council paid for an upgrade of the main electrical supply into the site ahead of the 2023 season, while hook-up capacity was trebled by installing new bollards and replacing others.

The existing toilets were improved, two new access tracks were created, drainage improvements were carried out and a dozen electric hardstanding areas were installed.

New timber gates and fencing were put in, as well as children’s play equipment and a barbecue area with picnic tables.

The site is owned by Highland Council and leased to the development trust.

During the season four staff do the day-to-day running, one full-time and three part-time.

Support is provided by Alistair Jack, development trust support officer at Caithness Voluntary Group.

Wick Development Trust's annual general meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30, from 6.30pm to 7pm, at Mackays Hotel, with all members and interested parties welcome. The trust is on the lookout for more board members – anyone interested in joining the board or volunteering with the trust is asked to get in touch at info@wickdt.co.uk

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