Thurso meeting next week to focus on town centre strategy
A MEETING is planned in Thurso next week as the next step in the bid to revamp the centre of the town.
Regeneration is a hot topic across the Highlands at the moment following the announcement of allocations by Highland Council from Scottish Government town centre regeneration funding.
Thurso Community Development Trust has been working in the background for some time gathering the views of the community on the town centre, from the initial large scale-community consultation in March 2018 to current consultations around inequalities and a tourism strategy for the town.
Joan Lawrie, Thurso development officer and voluntary project officer for the trust, said: “Our town centre is foremost in most people’s minds during any community consultation work we carry out.
“The general consensus is that Thurso town centre is welcoming and attractive. We have the benefit of approximately 80-90 per cent independent shops which high streets further south are begging for. This is a real attraction for visitors and something to be really celebrated.
“However, we also hear consistently about a lack of signage, lack of greenery and colour, and in general that the town centre could do with some care and attention.”
The trust has met with representatives of Highland Council with a view to progressing a Thurso town centre strategy in light of the community consultation work that has been done and the regeneration funding that is on offer.
We hear about a lack of signage, lack of greenery and colour, and in general that the town centre could do with some care and attention.
The funding of £132,000 allocated to Thurso is available for capital works which could improve the situation regarding signage and revitalising neglected areas of the town.
The overwhelming feeling, the trust says, is that the current funding on offer could act as a catalyst towards further regeneration and investment. However, it is felt that this is not for one group alone to tackle and that a collaborative approach involving Highland Council, key organisations as the Caithness Chamber of Commerce and local businesses is required.
Joan said: “From the outset of the trust and years prior, the call we heard frequently was that ‘someone needs to do something about Thurso’.
"The answer is there now that it is ourselves who need to work together to improve the town so we can make the most of the fantastic assets Thurso has as Scotland’s most northerly mainland town, our coastal location, our wonderful welcoming community and our prime tourism spot along the NC500 and as a gateway to Orkney. By working together we can achieve this.”
Town centre businesses, organisations and community groups are invited to a town centre strategy meeting on Wednesday, August 14, from 6pm at Thurso Youth Club. To register an interest in attending, contact Joan via email to joan@thursocdt.co.uk