A PARTY of seven representatives from various local organisations, led by Community Project Officer Brian MacLeod, left Merkinch on 20th November on a day visit to Wick.

First port of call was the Pulteneytown Peoples Project (PPP) which has developed rapidly since its beginning in May 2002. Its aim was to improve the quality of life, encourage training and improved employment opportunities, and encourage facilities for the area’s children and teenagers. Longer term aims include tackling social inclusion and deprivation and establishing a community centre in the area.

Pulteneytown is that half of the town that lies south of the river Wick. Originally built by the British Fisheries Society (and designed by Scottish engineer Thomas Telford). For many decades Pulteneytown/Wick was the largest herring port in Europe.

Higher up the hill a council housing scheme in Upper Pulteneytown has suffered not dissimilar problems to those experienced at South Kessock.

Following a Citizens Advice Board survey which indicated that, amongst other statistics, an overwhelming proportion of debt queries came from the area, there was a high proportion of young tenants and that free dinners had a 33% take-up in the local school compared to the 9-13% elsewhere.

Pulteneytown, nevertheless, had missed out on the social inclusion programme to the Ormlie area of Thurso. Following a well-attended public meeting of residents a steering group was set up, followed by the PPP itself with offices in a former council house.

Now the charity fulfils aspects of some of the work being done in Merkinch by mp33, Merkinch Enterprise, South Kessock Residents Association, Merkinch Community Centre, Home Start, etc. They have held fun days, outings to the skate park and clean-up days. Home-Link was set up and a highly successful week-long summer school was organised this summer.

A breakfast club and after-school club have just started, and a bus trip to the Panto in Inverness is planned. Residents’ meetings every fortnight are attended by between 25 and 40, and funding has been attracted from a wide range of sources. In just 18 months PPP now has 11 staff as well as volunteer support.

PPP and the Merkinch group had a useful exchange of information and ideas before the visitors went to see the Lower Pulteney re-development scheme which is saving Telford’s handsome derelict warehouses and workshops in the harbour area.

They also briefly visited the award-winning Wick Heritage Museum before returning home.

Pictured above right with Brian MacLeod (3rd left) and PPP coordinator Katrina MacNab (4th left) are the Merkinch visitors and their hosts outside the offices of the Pulteneytown Peoples Project.
(Picture courtesy of J Macdonald, Photographers, Wick)