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Final concept designs just in time for Christmas!
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!
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:
The map below shows the changes we are considering in response these themes:
You can also download the 'Addressing Feedback' map here.
Next StepsIn 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.
Exploring the Designs
Thank you to all those who attended our webinar on Wednesday 09 September. Some important questions were asked regarding heritage, accessibility and automatic bollards. Watch the recording to see how these questions were answered and to hear an update from Cllr Nicola Sinclair on the wider Town Centre Regeneration...
Last chance to get involved...Thank to the 100+ people who have contributed in a variety of ways to our consultation so far. However, there are still more people we'd like to hear from. We are especially keen to hear more from young people, parents of young children, Deaf people, disabled people and others who may experience barriers to getting around the town centre safely and easily. Please add your feedback on our website by midnight on 14 September . Or, if you picked up a paper survey, please ensure it is in the post by Monday 14 September. There are also a few surveys remaining at Tesco and Coop if you'd like to pick one up this weekend.
Business Owner SurveyBusinesses are the heart of the High Street and will be significantly impacted by any changes proposed. To ensure that business owners continue to be included in shaping these proposals further, we are asking business owners in the town centre to complete a tailored survey by 14 September . If your business is in the design focus area (pedestrian precinct and Market Square) we are also inviting you to book a 10-minute virtual meeting slot to discuss specific concerns or questions. Slots are available 10:30-11:30 AM on Tuesday 15 September - please email Kasia Koziel to book. Please note that due to the short time limit, these virtual meetings will be limited to addressing specific questions - general feedback or comments should be shared through the survey. Please ensure that you read through the FAQs in the first instance as meeting slots are limited.
Answers to your questions
Thank you to all those who have contributed to this consultation so far. We've had an incredible response already (90 comments in just two weeks) and many of you had questions. Unfortunately, we aren't able to respond to every comment; however, we have compiled a list of your most frequently asked questions and answered them below.
FAQsWho will maintain all the greenery and keep parklets free of litter and dog mess?
Through a range of engagement activities, we found that adding greenery to the area was one of the most popular improvements the community said they wanted to see. The planting recommendations we’ve included in the palettes are designed to be low maintenance. While upkeep of these features is the responsibility of the council, keeping the town free of litter and dog mess is the responsibility of every resident and visitor. We also recognise the work of volunteers, as do many people in Wick, which was evident in the number of comments we received in October last year praising volunteers for their work in maintaining paths and planters. Across Scotland there are many examples of local communities and businesses working together with the council to ensure their High Street is clean and looked after. As this is a project delivered in collaboration with the community we will recommend that in the next stages of the project the council, together with other local groups, agrees the best mechanism for the maintenance.
How will the pipe band shows and other community events take place in the Square with all the trees, benches and parklets?
We aim to create a flexible, multi-use public space in the Market Square by providing space for a range of events and activities with options for fixings for removable furniture, a temporary canopy, and the Christmas tree. Therefore a limited number of street furniture and trees have been added to the Market Square to keep it open for larger events and festivals.
Won’t the trees damage the flagstones/paving and drainage/block sunlight?
When tree selection and planting is carefully designed, many of the problems associated with trees in town centres and urban areas can be reduced or eliminated. In the detailed design stages, the design should reflect the installation of trees into what are called ‘tree pits’, which when designed well ensure that tree roots are guided to grow away from underground services and can also include root barriers to prevent roots from breaking up the paving. Tree pits can also include elements of SUDs (Sustainable Urban Drainage) which further help with the drainage in an area. Careful tree species selection, for example selecting small-sized trees with a more open canopy of leaves, help to keep an area feeling bright.
How will HGVs with abnormal loads (e.g. those going to Subsea 7) navigate the junction if the pavements are widened and corner radii tightened?
Due to the complexity of the junction, proposals for the junction are recommendations at this stage, and will not be developed to the same degree as the rest of the concept design at this time. The recommendations for the junction have been proposed to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the junction and access the High Street, and to provide more space on the narrow footways on Bridge Street. Initial vehicle tracking was conducted to determine the amount of space required for larger vehicles, and as a result some proposed changes to the junction were eliminated as they would cause challenges for these vehicles. The tracking showed that widening footways is feasible, but requires further work by the council in the next stage of the project to determine the exact positions of the crossings and footway widening. In the recommendations for the junction, the corner radii on the kerbs remain the same, however markings on the road are shown to create a visual tightening of the radii with the aim of slowing traffic while still allowing larger vehicles to pass through. Further analysis, tracking and modelling needs to be carried out before these recommendations can progress to a concept design and, eventually, a detailed design.
Why are there no recommendations for shopfronts/private buildings?
The appearance of buildings (used and disused) and the effect on the feel of the street was frequently mentioned and it is an important factor for improving the High Street. However, the appearance of buildings is outwith what we can address as part of the Street Design project. We’ve collated these comments and passed them on to local councillors who will pick these up as part of the wider town centre regeneration project. So far, Wick and East Caithness Councillors have worked towards the acquisition, demolition and replacement of two derelict buildings mentioned in many of these comments. Councillor Nicola Sinclair will provide an update on the Town Centre Regeneration at our webinar on 9 September and will be on hand to answer your questions. Register to attend here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrde-rrjsrG9PgCQNiybSH1jVGqoNWeGjW
An attractive design isn’t enough to draw people in. What will they do once they get there?
Lack of amenities/things to do and the use of empty buildings was the most popular theme expressed by the community in the Discover Stage of this project, and while there are parts of the proposal which seek to address this within the public realm area, it is largely beyond the scope of the Wick Street Design project. The proposals for the High Street aim to create a flexible, multi-use public space, which enables different activities to take place. This can include market stalls, more public events, and art and heritage trails. Through our heritage workshops in the Develop Stage of the project back in January, we facilitated the initiation of the Wick Heritage Trail project led by Wick Paths, Step Forward Wick Youth and Wick Society, which involves the development of a heritage walking trail that passes through the town centre, including the pedestrian precinct.
All data relating to the theme of amenities/activities was shared with Wick Community Council to contribute to the feasibility study regarding the use of the former Woolworths/Old Factory Shop building. Some ideas for making use of derelict buildings as amenities for the community included displaying the Johnstone Collection and having rotating exhibitions of local art. All of this information and any further comments will be passed on to local councillors to be addressed as part of the wider, ongoing Town Centre Regeneration project.
Caithness flagstone is part of our heritage. Why is the Caithness flagstone paving being removed?
Caithness flagstone is indeed a key heritage element and has been celebrated in the design through the retention and artistic embellishment of the pillars as gateway features at either end of the pedestrian precinct, and in some parts of Market Square and the linear areas. In the early engagement with the community, the flagstone paving was raised as a slipping hazard in wet weather, especially in areas where moss has grown. Maintenance of this paving has also been cited as an issue, whereby flagstones become unstable and loose, and broken flagstone is often replaced with tarmac, creating an uneven walking/wheeling surface. The draft concept design suggests replacing this surface with paving that is more easily maintained and provides a safer, more accessible surface for walking and wheeling.
Bridge Street, the non-pedestrianised part of High Street, lanes to car parks and links to the river are more in need of a redesign – why aren’t these areas included in the design?
The Wick Street Design project is focused on improving the pedestrianized zone of the High Street including Market Square, and the two signalised pedestrian crossings on Bridge Street. These areas were in the initial application to Street Design in 2019 submitted to Sustrans Scotland by The Highland Council and Wick Community Council. The funding must be spent working on these areas.
Bridge Street between the junction and the bridge was also open for comments in order to understand the wider context for people accessing the High Street by foot, wheelchair or bike. This resulted in providing recommendations for the Bridge St and High Street junction, and the lanes, which need to be developed further. All comments collected for the area outside the project have been passed to local councillors.
In addition to the Street Design project, The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) is working to develop an active travel masterplan for Wick. This masterplan will detail a range of improvements that need to be made to provide safe and pleasant walking and cycling routes across the town, and outline a set of actions that will be taken forward by HITRANS, Highland Council and other partners.
Visit their website to have your say: https://wickactivetravelmasterplan.commonplace.is/
Why aren't the visualisations are a truer reflection of Wick?
The visualisations aim to communicate how the designs can change the way the High Street is used and feels, including at different times of day and different seasons, however, they are merely impressions. Buildings in the visualisations have been kept white to emphasise the changes being proposed by the concept design. A range of design features, including heritage elements, have been shown as examples in the palettes and we would appreciate your input on what types of elements would be more appropriate, and more accurately reflect Wick’s identity, linking it to the Victorian aesthetic of Pulteneytown and the Harbour.
How is the project being funded? Could this money be spent on something else?
Sustrans Scotland’s Street Design programme is funded by the Scottish Government. The funding is used to support staff and related project costs to develop ambitious concept designs and site specific behaviour change measures directly with communities across Scotland. For the Wick Street Design Project the total cost is circa £150,000. Highland Council is matching Sustrans non-staff costs through identifying and committing equivalent spends in staffing commitments and reciprocal services to deliver the project.
Funding for this project could not be spent on any other type of work, nor any other area.
Once complete, Highland Council will be encouraged to apply to Sustrans’ Places for Everyone fund for detailed design (100% funded) and construction and delivery (30% match funded) for the creation of walking and cycling infrastructure for everyday journeys.
How do cars / lorries get past the bollards at shore lane end?
The purpose of the bollards in the High Street are to ensure that only emergency, delivery, maintenance and blue badge vehicles can access the pedestrianised High Street during the day, allowing the High Street to be a more warm, welcoming, and active place for people to spend time in and access local facilities. The automatic bollard system has been used successfully in Inverness to manage their pedestrian zone, and the replication of the same system in Wick is recommended.
The bollards will have controlled and uncontrolled periods, depending on the time of day. During controlled periods, the bollards will only lower for registered vehicles, while during uncontrolled periods, the bollards will lower for any vehicle which approaches. In Inverness, the controlled period is on weekdays between 11 am – 3pm, and on Saturday 10am – 5pm, and for Wick High Street, the controlled period will be agreed in the detail design stage.
During the controlled period, a registered vehicle which approaches the bollards is recognised either manually by a Council Operative in a control room through intercom and CCTV, or alternatively through an automated Number Plate Recognition technology. Once the vehicle is recognised as registered or permitted, the bollards drop to allow entry.
During the uncontrolled period when all vehicles are allowed to enter the pedestrian zone, the bollards will lower once any vehicle approaches them, without further process.
Accessible Design Webinar Cancelled - Still time to register for Exploring the Design Webinar
The team was really looking forward to hosting our webinar on the accessibility of the design this morning. Unfortunately, not enough people registered for the event for it to go ahead. As a result, the event has now been cancelled.
We will be getting in touch with those who did register, to give them an opportunity to share their views, and we encourage anyone interested in accessibility of the proposals for High Street and Market Square to join our webinar on 9 Sept.
Please register by 5pm on 2 September : https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrde-rrjsrG9PgCQNiybSH1jVGqoNWeGjW
Last chance to register for Accessibile Design webinar
A key aim of the designs for the pedestrian precinct and the Bridge Street crossings is to improve accessibility within the town centre. Back in October last year, when we asked about problems people experience when accessing facilities in this area, many comments cited lack of step-free access to shops, lack of seating, narrow pavements, and slippery surfaces, among other comments relating to accessibility.
A meeting with the Chair of the Caithness Access Panel and input from other local people gave us lots of ideas for making the High Street easier and safer for people to access shops and other local facilities. We've incorporated many of these improvements into the draft designs but we need your help to refine these improvements and let us know if they work for you.
On Wednesday 02 September we will be hosting an online workshop for people who experience barriers to navigating the High Street. Whether you need a mobility aid such as a walking stick or frame, you have a chronic condition that means you need frequent rest stops when walking, or you are Deaf or hard of hearing, we want to hear from you. If there is anything at all that impacts your ability to travel easily through the street by wheelchair, pushchair or on foot, come along on Wednesday to talk to our design team and help us shape these draft designs to make them as inclusive as possible.
Register by 2pm today to secure your place. Please note that RSVPs on Facebook are not accepted as registration - you must register by completing this form: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcOGgqjwuE9NIEbz86GrWgK1nQv4U-aT3
Get your neighbours involvedThanks to all who have contributed your views to this engagement so far. It has only been one week and we have already had 89 contributions (either comments or agreements with other comments) from 39 respondents. To make sure the results of this engagement are a true reflection of the views of the community as a whole, we still need to hear from many more of you. Please share this website with your neighbours, friends, family and colleagues and encourage them to add their voices before 14 September.
Exploring the designs – have your say on draft designs for High Street
In a series of engagement activities and events last year, the local community told us what changes they wanted to see in the High Street to make it attractive, accessible and welcoming to people, as well as highlighting Wick’s cultural heritage. We’ve used this feedback to come up with design proposals and are giving you the opportunity to view, comment and shape these initial proposals. These draft designs are now available to view outside Caithness House as well as on our project website .
How to have your sayUntil 14 September , you can get involved in this stage of the project in the following ways:
Accessible Design Workshop - How accessible are the new designs for Wick High Street?
Date: 2 Sept 2020
Time: 11.00-12.45
In this online workshop, you’ll learn more about the aspects of the designs that aim to make High Street and the crossings on Bridge Street more accessible, and provide feedback on how they might impact people of differing abilities. If you encounter barriers that make it difficult for you to get around as a pedestrian (including motorised wheelchair and mobility scooter users), join us on 2 September to tell us how these new proposals will impact you.
To register for the event visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcOGgqjwuE9NIEbz86GrWgK1nQv4U-aT3
Wick Street Design Project – Exploring the Designs
Date: 9 Sept 2020
Time: 18.00-20.00
In this webinar, you’ll learn more about the designs and how they might impact you. You’ll also be able to engage directly with our design team, give feedback and ask questions. We are particularly interested in hearing from those who live, work or own a business on or near the High Street and Bridge Street.
To register for the event visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrde-rrjsrG9PgCQNiybSH1jVGqoNWeGjW