Get behind Kirkwall regeneration bid, urges OIC

Orkney Islands Council is urging the public to get behind its plans to regenerate Kirkwall’s town centre, by registering their support via an online questionnaire.

The council will be submitting grant applications later this year to Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund for building restoration and regeneration works in the town’s conservation area.  A key aspect of the application process will be to demonstrate the level of public support for the plans.

If the grant application is successful, the funding would be invested into similar projects to the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI)  running in Stromness.  This has seen a number of historic buildings either being brought back into use or having traditional features reinstated.  The THI project also funded the replacement of concrete paving slabs with traditional flagstones in the town centre.

Evelyn Mathershaw, the OIC’s head of strategic development and regeneration, stressed that the grant funds would not just go towards making the Kirkwall town centre look good, but also to ensuring the long-term economic viability of the town.

She said: “At this stage it is impossible to know if our grant applications for Kirkwall will be successful but demonstrating community support strengthens our submission as community engagement and strong public support is deemed vital by the funders.”

The survey will run until August 20.  To take part, click here.