At a public meeting tonight, Highland Council officials will unveil two proposals for the eastern link at Inshes of the city's proposed new Trunk Link Route (TLR) — one of which would result in the demolition of a Tesco store while the other would require the removal of Inshes Church along with Harry Ramsden's and Blockbuster.

Some houses may also be have to be demolished.

Officials will outline the case for the TLR — which will link the A96/A9/A82 — to help the city cope with the growing traffic conjestion on its roads, population growth as well as being key to further development including the new Inverness College campus for UHI at Beechwood.

But they maintain the project is dependent on Scottish Government funding and senior council officials privately adknowledged that the bill will almost certainly exceed £200 million.

The current construction costs are about £120 million although this is accepted to be a conservative estimate as they do not include any land purchase or compensation costs, or dualling the middle section.

It is also an increase from the previously-quoted £83 million estimate — before the council opted in September to include the more expensive option of an aqueduct to cross the Caledonian Canal.

The aim is to start the TLR at the eastern end in 2012 before moving to the west, crossing the river and canal. Neil Gillies, Highland Council's director of transport, environmental and community services, acknowledged there were challenges ahead.

He said the construction costs for the eastern link were £35 million but stressed this did not include land costs which were currently being compiled by the District Valuer. Nor did they account for future rises in construction costs.

While the costs of the local roads in the chosen project would be met by Highland Council, the costs for a trunk road were the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

"The main thing is going to be the money around this," he said.

"It is going to be very difficult for the council to fund this level of expenditure."

Malcolm MacLeod, Highland Council's development plans manager, acknowledged there were also planning issues involved.

"Obviously, this part of the TLR at Inshes is an incredibly complex challenge for us to make sure the existing uses and existing groups can be accommodated in the final design of the road," he said.

He also warned the route could also require relocation of housing. "It is difficult to avoid property in this area, given the development there has been," he said.

He added that the council had given a commitment last year to retaining the retail district centre at Inshes where Tesco's was an anchor store. Work would continue in the forthcoming months to look at how the retail park could be reconfigured to ensure the store remained there.

Councillor Drew Hendry, chairman of Highland Council's planning, environment and development committee, said a project of this size was always going to lead to big challenges. "Part of the reason for the consultation is to make sure the best possible choice is made — regardless of the difficulties — in the interests of the folk who live in the area," he said.

"We have been in communication with the Scottish Government and been making sure we have been involving all parties as the project has been moving forward to this stage."

Asked how confident he was about the money being forthcoming from the Scottish Government, Councillor Hendry replied: "We think we have put a good proposal together. Certainly we hope this is seen as a priority for Inverness and the Highlands."

* Tonight's meeting will be at Inshes Church at 7.30pm.

v.sweeney@inverness-courier.co.uk 

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