Thurso design challenge for Millennium Milepost marker
A DESIGN and colouring competition has been launched by Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) as part of a tie-up with Sustrans – the national charity that aims to make walking and cycling easier.
Thurso is a key location on the National Cycle Network and a Millennium Milepost marker is sited at the town's railway station as part of this.
To mark the millennium, Sustrans commissioned artists to create these markers which were cast in bronze and appear up and down the country. There are 1000 markers in all.
They are now felt to be in need of a refresh and Sustrans has been working with communities to inject some colour into the markers and give a sense of place to them. A recent project in Arbroath saw its marker painted in the local football club’s colours.
When we were contacted by Sustrans we just couldn’t say no. It’s a very exciting little project.
Thurso now has a chance to influence how its Millennium Milepost marker should look. TCDT is working with Sustrans on a competition for the community to design the new colourway for the Thurso marker. A colouring sheet can be downloaded from the trust’s website or Facebook page. Copies of the sheet can also be collected from the Messy Nessy Play Centre in the town’s Rotterdam Street.
Entering is simple – pick up a sheet and complete your design before submitting back to TCDT or to Messy Nessy. A panel of judges will pick the top design from which Sustrans will run an online poll to pick the winner. Sustrans will then visit in mid-September to complete the painting of the Millennium Milestone marker.
Thurso development officer Joan Lawrie said: “When we were contacted by Sustrans we just couldn’t say no. It’s a very exciting little project for us to do and one that will go a little way to promoting cycling in the town.
"It also will hopefully inject just a wee bit of colour and interest up at the railway station. We’re really looking forward to seeing the entries that arrive.”
