News on Wick Street Design Project

Responding to your feedback

The Wick Street Design team would like to extend our thanks once again to all those who took part in the various consultation and engagement activities we've held during the Design Stage of the project. We have been combing through your feedback and pulling out the key themes among the comments. The map below shows the common themes for each of the design areas/areas where recommendations have been made. You can also download the 'Design Stage' map here .

Overall, the proposals and recommendations were positively received, with 69% of responses being positive. People feel the designs "brighten up" the area by adding greenery and artwork, as well as creative lighting solutions. Improved pedestrian safety is strongly welcomed, particularly through traffic calming measures, restricted parking, wider pavements on Bridge Street and safer crossings with raised tables. The lanes and the gateways were the most positively viewed proposals and recommendations, largely due to restricting vehicle access, the potential for creating links to Wick's heritage and signposting to local attractions and facilities with a town map.

There were also some key themes denoting concerns or questions that Wickers have about a few aspects of the draft designs:

Space for events - people are concerned that having trees in the square and a narrowed vehicle path will reduce the space available for the Pipe Band processions and other large-scale community events

Trees might damage paving and leaf fall could pose a hazard in wet conditions

Space for larger vehicles - concerns are raised about whether or not larger vehicles will be able to navigate the Bridge Street junction

Maintenance of street furniture and planters

Risk of vandalism

Confusion regarding the number of blue badge bays available

Number and location of loading bays for local businesses

Replacement of Caithness stone paving, a key heritage feature of the area

Need for more sheltered areas

How the bollards will operate, particularly for disabled access and taxis often carrying disable passengers

Need to include other lanes in recommendations to create stronger links to car parks and encourage 'Park and Stride'

The map below shows the changes we are considering in response these themes:

You can also download the 'Addressing Feedback' map here.

Next Steps

In this final stage of the project, we will be reviewing these changes internally within Sustrans and with the project partners. Once the designs have been reviewed and final changes confirmed, the final concept design will be shared with the community here on our website towards the end of November.

Posted on 5th October 2020

by Tremaine Bilham