Wick street design project

Update on project

Notice of roadworks and installation of rising bollards

Restrictions on traffic entering the pedestrian zone in Wick High Street will be in place to enable the installation of rising bollards during April and May 2025. 

Scottish Gas Network mains diversion

Thursday 10 April to Friday 18 April 2025

These works are necessary to allow the safe construction of the rising bollard pits.

Rising bollards installation

• Monday 5 April to Wednesday 14 May 2025
• Monday the 19 April to Wednesday the 28 May 2025

Access to the High Street will be maintained by suspending the one-way restrictions so that when the east end access is closed, access and egress will be permitted from the west end and vice versa. 

Traffic will be managed within the pedestrian zone and only authorised traffic will be permitted to enter, in line with the existing traffic order.

Operation of rising bollards

Entering the pedestrian zone

The rising bollards will be monitored by the Control Room in Inverness between the hours of:

• Monday to Thursday and Saturday 6am to 10pm
• Friday and Sunday 07:30am to 10:00pm

System Operation in restricted hours

1. The vehicle approaches the system with bollards in the raised position and the traffic indicator light showing red and drives onto entry approach loops
2. Access control is to be triggered via uPass or Telguard intercom to control room
3. If valid, access is granted and bollards lower, an audible warning is enabled
4. The traffic indicator light on the entry will turn from red to green once the bollards are confirmed down indicating it is safe to traverse the bollards. Audible warning disabled
5. The vehicle proceeds to move forward and hits the safety loop
6. The traffic indicator light will turn from green to red indicating it is no longer safe to proceed
7. Bollards are raised once the safety loop is clear.  Audible warning enabled until bollards reach raised proximity
8. The system awaits the next command

System Operation in unrestricted hours

1. The vehicle approaches the system with bollards in the raised position and the traffic indicator light showing red and drives onto entry approach loops
2. The control system signals the bollards to lower automatically. Audible warning enabled
3. The traffic indicator light on the entry will turn from red to green once the bollards are confirmed down indicating it is safe to traverse the bollards, Audible warning is disabled.
4. The vehicle proceeds to move forward and hits the safety loop,
5. The traffic indicator light will turn from green to red indicating it is no longer safe to proceed,
6. Bollards are raised once the safety loop is clear.  Audible warning enabled until raised proximity switch is detected.
7. The system awaits the next command

Exiting the pedestrian zone

1. The vehicle approaches the system with bollards in the raised position and the traffic indicator light showing red and drives onto entry approach loops
2. The control system signals the bollards to lower automatically. Audible warning enabled
3. The traffic indicator light on the entry will turn from red to green once the bollards are confirmed down indicating it is safe to traverse the bollards, Audible warning is disabled.
4. The vehicle proceeds to move forward and hits the safety loop,
5. The traffic indicator light will turn from green to red indicating it is no longer safe to proceed,
6. Bollards are raised once the safety loop is clear.  Audible warning enabled until raised proximity switch is detected.
7. The system awaits the next command

Failure of bollards

The bollards are designed to lower in the event of a power failure or malfunction.

Existing Traffic Order

Part of the High Street, Market Place and Back Bridge Street

Restrictions for the pedestrian zone are:

• pedestrian zone, except for loading from Monday to Saturday
  • midnight to 11am
  • 4pm to midnight
• Sunday at any time
• no waiting at any time

Market Place

Restrictions for the pedestrian zone are:

• no waiting except for taxis
• disabled badge holders only

Plans of all Highland Council parking restrictions, including those for Wick.

You can contact us at WickStreetDesign@highland.gov.uk.

Detailed design and draft tender documents

The design team in Golspie is finalising the layout of the Wick Street Design project and is preparing a package of drawings and specifications for the civils work.

The proposed scheme includes improvements to the signalised junction at Bridge Street/High Street which will make it easier for pedestrians to cross the road and access the High Street from the surrounding car parks.

The plans would also see the resurfacing of the pedestrian zone in the High Street and the installation of rising bollards at both ends to control access for cars and lorries. This would ensure that any authorised traffic would have to reduce speed which will add to pedestrian safety in the High Street. New seating and planting are included in the scheme as well as art work which will reference the Market Cross and local cultural influences.

SUSTRANS, who have provided funding for the design development, are not in a position to provide funding for construction. A funding bid has been made to Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund and a decision is expected in April 2025.

View the design drawings

Consultation on the detailed design plans

We held a well attended drop-in session on the 31 March 2023 in Caithness House to share the design for the pedestrian zone in the High Street and the Bridge Street/High Street junction. This project forms part of the wider regeneration of Wick town centre.

The purpose of the session was to share more detail so we can finalise the design, secure a funding stream and move on to preparing tender documents and construction phase. Subject to a positive response and successful funding bid, it is intended that construction works could start before the end of the year.

The project began in 2019 when The Highland Council, in partnership with The Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council and Caithness Community Partnership applied to Sustrans Scotland for funding through the Street Design Programme.

The project team was led by Sustrans’ Street Design team, in partnership with The Highland Council. The project team worked collaboratively with the local community of Wick between September 2019 and October 2020 to develop a concept design which aimed to create:

• Warm, welcoming and more attractive public spaces
• A comfortable and safe environment to walk, wheel and cycle
• Better travel experiences through Wick town centre - particularly when accessing local facilities
• A sense of identity for the town centre in Wick, drawing on local culture and heritage

Following completion of the concept stage, a further successful bid for funding was made to the Sustrans Places for Everyone programme. This has allowed us to take the ideas from the concept phase and work them into a detailed design which can be used to tender for construction works.

View the design drawings

You can contact us with any comments or questions by email at WickStreetDesign@highland.gov.uk.

Funding from Places for Everyone

We have been successful in applying to Sustrans for £150,000 from its Places for Everyone fund to allow it to take forward the community of Wick’s vision to redesign the High Street. The project taps into the enthusiasm and determination to highlight the many positive reasons to live in and visit Caithness.

The ambitious Wick High Street project brings together The Highland Council, the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council, local Councillors, community groups and members of the public to work collaboratively to make improvements that will create a more welcoming and attractive town centre that people want to spend quality time in.

View the concept drawings