Public thanked for input into new vision for Thurso and Wick

28th February 2013

Members of the Thurso and Wick communities have helped to develop a new vision for the towns by participating in events known as Charrettes.

The Charrettes included well attended workshops held over two days in both Thurso and Wick and culminated in report back sessions in Wick on Tuesday and Thurso on Wednesday. Proposals included new development opportunities, regeneration and improvement of key sites in the towns as well as better ways of working together to deliver these proposals.

The Charrettes were organised by the Highland Council to enable local communities to influence the future of their town through a new Local Development Plan for Caithness and Sutherland. The outcomes from the Charrettes will be reflected in the first stage of the new Plan to be published later this year.

Councillor Gail Ross, Caithness Civic Leader, said: “I would like to thank everyone who made this event possible but most of all the members of the public that turned up to give us their ideas and their vision for the future of Wick. I think the main message was that yes, there is a lot of investment coming to the town in the next few years but we need to make sure as a community that we keep making improvements for future generations to come. We have so much to offer up here, let's start shouting about it!"

Scott Dalgarno, The Highland Council’s Development Plans Manager, was pleased with the positive response and input in both communities to the events.

He said: “The outcome of the Charrettes highlights the community's aspirations for new development, regeneration and improvement in these two towns. It’s been great to see people get involved in planning the future of their town and surrounding area - they have set the framework for a new Local Development Plan for the area. To deliver this vision, the Council will be looking to set up a local team or forum to progress the outcomes of the Charrette alongside the Local Development Plan.”

The key outcomes for each town are set out below: -

A new vision for Thurso

Support for growth
With the decommissioning of Dounreay, the town must attract new investment, including the renewables sector, to secure future training and job opportunities. Providing land for the western expansion of the town will facilitate the growth of Scrabster Harbour and future investment in the town and send out the message that Thurso is open for business.

Local Economy
There is enthusiastic support for encouraging tourism and for new investment in training and employment in the town such as the North Highland College (UHI) and renewables. Participants want to see strong links between the education and employment sector to attract people to the area and ensure the town’s young people are ready to take up new opportunities.

Local distinctiveness and tourism
A traditional Norse port in the 12th Century, the town is steeped in history and culture. However, it was felt that this rich legacy, and Caithness generally, is under-sold to tourists and that the town should promote these historic and cultural assets through community led events, attractions and tours. Ideas to reopen St Peter’s Church and Thurso Castle and its grounds as key visitor attractions should be explored along with the use of local crafts, skills, materials and produce.

Transport and movement
Participants highlighted the cost and infrequency of buses and trains as well as the lack of parking at the railway station. There is also concern about HGVs passing through the town and the location of disabled parking spaces. To improve the vitality of the town centre, it was felt important to work to improve frequency of train and bus provision and improve the arrival experience and parking signage for visitors.

Young People
Young people expressed their desire for better play, sports and outdoor activities, particularly surfing. A key concern was the lack of informal ‘hang out’ space for 16-25 year olds to get together. Students from the High School highlighted the facilities young people would need in the future to encourage them to stay in the town, including employment, good shops and better housing.
Establishing more links that build relationships with young people and the renewables industry was highlighted.

Arts and culture
Participants highlighted the number of artistic groups operating in the town and the potential community and tourism related offer that these groups could collectively bring. A cultural centre where artists could meet was seen as important to support a cultural renaissance of the town.

Landscape and Environment
The River Thurso is one of the town’s greatest assets but some of the uses along its length, particularly to the east of the Ellan Bridge, detract from its amenity value. Over time relocation of employment uses and replacement by residential and mixed use regeneration can enhance the river corridor. This would create more natural landscapes and habitats whilst providing amenity for local people and visitors with focused areas for leisure, recreation and culture.

Quality of design
Participants expressed concern over the design quality of newer buildings and the neglect, sometimes to the point of demolition, of older buildings. There are opportunities for creative and place sensitive Nordic architectural approaches to new buildings and the enhanced use of local materials, particularly Caithness stone, in future building works.

Active community
Participants highlighted the number of active groups currently operating throughout the town but that the lack of a community hub or meeting space has affected the ability of these groups to co-exist and work together for the greater good of the town.
The principle of participation was grasped enthusiastically during the Charrette. Participants expressed an enthusiasm to continue their involvement in the town’s regeneration and the emerging CaS Plan. Through the Charrette the idea of forming a new forum or team was developed, to build local capacity and enable active community participation for Thurso’s people into the future. The group would have responsibility for discussing how the community and the Local Development Plan will progress the outcomes of the Charrette.

A new vision for Wick

Support for development and regeneration
Participants were positive about development in Wick and were keen to focus on regenerating the town’s heart and investing in the harbour to revitalise the local economy and strengthen the local community.

Conserve and celebrate local heritage
Local people are proud of their cultural and built heritage, which includes the herring fishing history, Carnegie Library, Caithness flagstones, Thomas Telford’s legacy and the Old Pulteney Distillery. The conservation and promotion of the history and heritage of the town and surrounding area could help create a positive image for the town and attract more visitors.

Regeneration in the heart of the town
Participants felt that the regeneration of key sites on both sides of the river is vital to keep the heart of the town beating and create better connections to Lower Pulteneytown. Currently it is experiencing declining trade, vacant and derelict buildings and limited access to the waterfront. With the relocation of the swimming pool and the library to the new school campus to the south of the town, there is a need and an opportunity to enhance the “experience economy” in the heart of town. This would include sensitive regeneration of the built environment, mixed-uses including residential, creative industry and cultural uses, cafes and restaurants and an accessible, vibrant waterfront. The possibility of creating an urban regeneration trust to hold assets and drive the regeneration process should be considered.

Development of the harbour and airport
Participants expressed the desire to attract new industries and create local jobs - the harbour and the airport are key to achieving this. People welcomed the idea of utilising the harbour and airport for the potential of off-shore renewable energy related opportunities. The harbour and the airport is the key to the future.

Training and job opportunities for young people
Participants were concerned about future training and employment opportunities locally. The renewable energy industries coming into Wick could help to grow the currently declining population as well as retain and attract young people to the town. Establishing links and relationships between business, including the renewables sector, and local schools is important to ensure that the local workforce is equipped with the appropriate skills and training.

Transport and getting around
Wick benefits from being served by buses, a railway station and an airport. However it was felt that improvements to service frequency and timing, especially at the beginning and end of the day, and lower prices would help attract investment and bring more visitors. Participants also wanted to see improvements to pedestrian paths within town including better accessibility for all and investment in continuous coastal paths and inland routes. Opportunities to use the railway for heritage rides between Wick and Thurso could be explored.

A place to be in Caithness
It was felt that despite the outstanding coastal beauty, richness of the local history, heritage and archaeology, the region of Caithness is undersold and under-promoted. Participants agreed that the growth and regeneration of the town should be linked with that of the wider area. Wick should work to articulate, coordinate and promote its many natural and cultural assets as part of an enhanced offer to visitors across Caithness.

Continuing the participatory process
Participants were keen to continue their involvement in the development, regeneration and improvement of Wick. Issues to be considered carefully include preservation and new uses for historic buildings, sites for housing development, area tourism strategy, the involvement of young people and development of the harbour and local economy. In response to this it was suggested that a new or existing forum meet later in the spring with responsibility for discussing how the community and the Local Development Plan will progress the outcomes of the Charrette.