YOUR VIEWS: Inverness bridge broken again, rental property shortage, tourism centres and Highland flights cuts
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Torvean Swing Bridge closed again
There was plenty of anger and consternation from readers after it was announced the Torvean Swing Bridge had to be closed to drivers yet again last week, due to a technical fault. The latest in a long line of closures for the trouble-hit structure, this time round it was closed for two days.
“This is a shocking set of circumstances regarding this new swing bridge due to the excessive amount of breakdowns during its short life. The manufacturer should be taken to task as it appears one breakdown after another in different commodities. Obviously their back up service is not as efficient as it should be, so typical of many firms today. As many people have said, a tunnel would have been the ideal solution in the first place.” - Brian Leitch, Inverness
City sees major shortage of properties to let
Inverness is still experiencing a shortage of rental properties with only seven properties available at one point this week, according to the property website Rightmove.
“I totally agree with preventing short-term lets that affect the availability of residential housing - especially in any housing schemes, these are residential areas, not commercial! Not only are short term lets affecting housing numbers, they bring nothing but anti-social behaviour to these areas! In addition those trying to get on the property ladder have no chance - flats, ex council houses etc are all being snapped up for those landlords expanding their holiday home portfolio, who can well afford to go way over asking price - meaning first time buyers have no chance competing in the housing market to get on the ladder! Highland Council have no interest in helping those neighbours of STL that have issues either! It’s about time the Highland Council took responsibility and banned them from residential areas! You can’t have a community of just those hosting Airbnbs and tourists!!! Supporting hotels and encouraging to eat out is more beneficial to our communities - the only people that are benefiting from STLs are the hosts! They need to wake up before they drive all skilled local workers out!” - Diana, Inverness
“Well done Patrick Harvey of the Greens - NOT. He thought that rent controls would help tenants. Wrong. It's done exactly the opposite. Less landlords because of the Green party policies (supported by their dummy masters, the SNP), less property availability. Result? More unsatisfied tenant demand and rising open market, unrestricted, rents. Like many of our Scottish politicians who are out of their depth, the law of unintended consequences. When will they ever learn?” - Ian Marshall, St Andrew’s
“This is nothing new! Happened to me as far back as 2005, multiple times - before Airbnb, etc. Also unfair for agents to take appointments they cannot give clients a hope in renting. I finally had to take a property without viewing it in person in order to get one.” - Michelle Gowans
“Nobody is looking at the big picture of housing and community development. Housing - we need all aspects of it . Striking the balance to get the mix right - nobody looking after this . Policy and regulations have changed the landscape for letting and short term letting. Many factors at play here - we need leadership and balance.” - John Murray
“If we stopped pandering to the tourists so much then maybe local residents and people who want to be local residents would be better off for a change. People are too busy trying to make easy money than considering the wider impact for the local community.” - Michael Lightbody
“Landlords have been leaving the market due to changes made by government, but mortgages have also increased, it can only get worse, as prices are increasing slowly at the moment.” - John Lewis
“Be it private or social rents.. what I'm wondering is why is the pull so weighted towards the city these days and not our more rural locations?” - Munro Shirley
“Private rents are extortionate and not enough socially rented properties that’s why there’s so many homeless” - Allan Dubh-Shith
VisitScotland to close tourist centres
There has been continued reaction to the news that VisitScotland is to close its network of high street tourist information centres, including the one in Inverness. It plans to move to an online model for advice and information instead.
“My wife and I spent a month in Inverness during the summer of 2022. We had the most amazingly fantastic time. And we were frequent visitors at the tourist office. They help us in many ways, with one of the best being steering us to drive along the North Coast 500. Our trip would have been greatly diminished without the in-person, on-site help they kindly provided.” - Scott, Pennsylvania, USA
Loganair to cut flights in Highlands and elsewhere
Loganair flights between Inverness and Manchester and Inverness and Stornoway will be reduced in number this summer. The company is also scrapping some services outwith the Highlands in an effort to “restore the image and reputation” of the airline after admitting service levels had dropped below customer expectations over the last 18 months.
“The ferry is less painful that this useless bunch of board room fat cats who only care about cash! Soon as Loganair expanded they lost customer care, it's all about the board and shareholders and not customers or life line services.” - Kkennyy Mmacleann
“British Midland used to be £100 for a return to Birmingham, Loganair is £250. It’s daylight robbery, when EasyJet do return flights to London for £60.” - Jimmy Hendry
“Own fault, far too expensive.” - Graham Marlyn Logan
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