3 Inverness hotels step in to offer parking for Remembrance Sunday attendees after roadwork issue on riverside
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Community-spirited hoteliers in Inverness have been hailed by organisers of the annual Remembrance Sunday service and parade on the riverside after they offered their car parks up to those travelling for the event.
Royal British Legion Scotland's local branch said it was delighted with the offers from the Glen Mhor, Waterside and Glenmoriston Town House hotels, which were made after roadworks on the other side of the River Ness threatened to restrict access to parking areas traditionally used by some of those paying their respects at Cavell Gardens.
Highland Council is in the process of resurfacing work in Ness Walk, which is notorious for its pot holes, as well as creating an active travel corridor for cyclists and pedestrians.
But this meant that access to car parking on the west side of the river that remembrance attendees usually use will be more difficult to access this year.
Related: 4 hour closure planned for Inverness bridge during Sunday's Remembrance Day Parade
With the Infirmary Bridge also usually shut to pedestrians to coincide with the remembrance service over weight-related safety fears, there were concerns that some people travelling for the parade might struggle to park and make it to the ceremony at the allotted hour.
But the kindness of the three riverside hotels has now provided a parking alternative for 2023's Sunday event.
And the Legion's Inverness branch was delighted with the generosity on show. Joe Davidson said: "We had a meeting to discuss options and went down to the hotels. I didn't expect to get what we got but the whole thing was fairly straightforward."
"The staff said they'd have a quick check and came right back".
He added that organisers were "very" happy with the kind offer and the community-spirited gesture.
A spokesperson for the Glenmoriston Town House Hotel confirmed that they were one of the three hotels that offered their parking to help out on the day.
"Because of what it's for we were happy to help out," said a spokesperson for the hotel.
The Inverness Remembrance Day parade takes place from 2.15pm on Sunday, when the parade will form up in Huntly Street.
The parades will then move off towards Cavell Gardens followed by civic dignitaries before the service and wreath laying ceremonies take place from 3pm.
The event is expected to end around 4.05pm when the parades will fall out.
A mini-bus is being supplied by D&E Coaches to take infirm or disabled members to and from the Cavell Gardens memorial.
Refreshments will be available in the British Legion Club in King Street after the event.
The Infirmary Bridge will be closed to pedestrians from 1pm to 5pm.
The weekend's Remembrance services also include a ceremony in the city's Falcon Square on Saturday – Armistice Day itself.
The service in the square will begin at 10.50am on Saturday. On Saturday there will also be wreath laying events at 10.15am at the Queen's Own Highlanders Memorial in Bank Street, at 10.30am at the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Memorial in Station Square, and at 11.30am at the Vice Admiral ACC Miers VC, Tomnahurich Cemetery.
Then, at 11.45am, the wreath laying will take place at the Commonwealth War Graves in Tomnahurich Cemetery, followed at 12.10pm at the Inverness Military Memorial, at the top of Tomnahurich Cemetery. They wrap up at 12.45pm with Colour Sergeant J Munro, Craig Dunain.
