A volunteer team from SSEN Transmission's Spittal to Peterhead subsea cable link has helped clear and reinstate an overgrown pathway at Staxigoe Playpark in Wick.

Staff from SSEN Transmission were joined by key contractors NKT and Caithness-based John Gunn and Son Ltd, spending the day cutting back vegetation and reopening the route to improve access for families using the play area.

The work was welcomed by Sinclair's Bay Community Council, which is leading wider efforts to enhance the site for local residents.

Marc Hay, Community Liaison Manager with SSEN Transmission, said: "It was great to spend the day at Staxigoe Playpark, working alongside colleagues to do something practical that will make a real difference to a much-valued community space. Days like this give our teams a chance to lend a hand and make a positive contribution to the communities hosting our infrastructure. A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time, and to Sinclair's Bay Community Council for giving us the opportunity to get involved."

-- Advertisement --

Pat Ramsay, from Sinclair's Bay Community Council, added: "We are delighted with the support given by SSEN Transmission and their partners. The paths were totally overgrown, and the team of volunteers worked hard to clear the grass which had rooted into the rubberised path. There were lots of laughs alongside the strenuous work, plus a well-earned refreshment break. This is part of our ongoing efforts to improve the park. Volunteers are crucial to making this project successful, and we're indebted to the team for their support."

The volunteering forms part of wider community support in Caithness. Earlier this month, SSEN Transmission's Shetland HVDC Link Local Fund awarded more than £62,000 to help Wick Development Trust bring the historic St Fergus Church into community ownership.

Meanwhile, delivery of the Spittal to Peterhead Subsea Cable Link is progressing, with a key construction compound now operational near Halkirk to support onshore works and local employment.