News on Wick Street Design Project

As 2020 draws to a close, so does our team’s role in the Wick Street Design Project. We are now in the process of handing over the project to the Highland Council and Wick Community Council. But before we do, we want to thank you for joining us on this journey to create a new image for Wick’s pedestrian precinct as a warm, welcoming and attractive place for people to gather and move around in.

This year has brought with it many challenges, but also many uplifting moments that we’ve been pleased to share with you. Since the project launched in October last year, Wickers have been pulling up their sleeves to install planters, paint a bench, develop design ideas and celebrate Wick’s heritage.

Even with Covid restrictions forcing us to cancel many of the events we had planned to engage you all in the design process, your community champions on our project steering group worked hard to make sure you were able to have your say on the proposals. The effort that you all have put in to guide the design process has been invaluable, and together we have produced a concept design that is truly representative of the views and needs of local people.

We are pleased to finally be able to add the completed concept design (check here ) to your Christmas stockings! They will also be available to view in person outside Caithness in the new year. If you’re safely able to be out and about in January, do take a look.

With our support, Councillor Nicola Sinclair’s and the Community Council have applied to Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme for further funding to progress this concept design to the final stages: 1) technical design, where more detail will be added, such as specific material choices and precise measurements; and 2) construction. We have recommended that the steering group continue to be involved in the project during these next stages to ensure that the community continues to have a voice as the project develops.

We hope to be able to visit Wick again soon, and to see the changes once they are in place.

Thank you for being a part of this project and for embodying your town slogan – Wick really does work well!

Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!