Inverness Angling Club questions Highland Council land use right over Riverside Way project
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With work to start imminently on the Riverside Way active travel project a local angling club has raised significant and unanswered concerns about how Highland Council can progress its plans on land it is not clear it owns.
The Inverness Angling Club says it has had no communication or respect from the local authority after questioning but receiving no clear explanation about land ownership.
The council told The Inverness Courier that with four days to go before the work starts it was still "evaluating" the issue.
Five months of construction is planned for the Places for Everyone scheme, which stretches from Whin Park to the Highland Hospice. It includes widening footpaths, creating a segregated cycle lane, and formalising parking to improve walking, wheeling, and cycling and is due to start on Monday.
The angling club is already not well-disposed to the council because the area in question around the car park beside the fisherman’s hut has already been marred as the anglers see it by the Gathering Place (pictured above) public artwork.
In a letter seen by the Courier, the club asked the local authority chief executive Derek Brown about who owns the land as changes impact “on our members' ability to access the Fishermen's car park.”
The letter stated: “We recently enquired about the control/ownership of this car park and were advised that while Bught Road and Ness Walk Upper are adopted roads, it is unclear who is responsible for the car park.
“The public road aside, the ownership/responsibility for the area in between the Bught Park and the river is unclear. It's also worth pointing out that the controversial riverside art project sits mainly within this area of uncertain ownership. We therefore seek clarification in respect of both of these points.
“It is our feeling that the area of land in question may, at one time, have belonged to the former Bught Estate and may possibly have then transferred to their inheritors/successors. This being the case, then the council has no legal jurisdiction to carry out work within this space.”
It added: “We therefore think that we should be treated with a bit more respect when it comes to the planning of this project. The feeling to date is that our views have been completely ignored.”
In its response to an inquiry by the Courier, the council was unable to state explicitly that it owned the land.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “Discussions are under way with the Inverness Angling Club in order to ascertain the best way forward for the use of the adjoining car park at the fisherman's hut.
“As with all projects, due diligence is being applied and all matters, including the ownership of the land relevant to the car park are being evaluated at this time.
"We have advised the Inverness Angling Club representatives that we will be in contact with them with an update in due course.
“The council strongly values the working relationship with the Inverness Angling Club in relation to the management of the River Ness.
"Discussions have taken place with the club relating to the investment being made in the riverside, especially adjacent to the fisherman's hut at the Little Isle Pool, including investment in access arrangements and parking.
"This is connected with the Riverside Way project which will see a significant improvement in community access to and from the river, especially for active travel.
“Our commitment to discuss these arrangements with club representatives remains and meetings continue to take place in this regard to ensure that the interests of the club are accounted for during the implementation of this important project which will have wider benefits for the whole community by improving access to the river for all.”
The spokesperson added: “Members of the angling club were present at the Riverside Way public information event held at The Bught Stop on October 6 where they were provided with copies of the developed design booklets for the scheme.
“In addition, electric vehicle (EV) bays will not be installed as part of the scheme, but the ducting and hardware will be installed to prevent digging up the newly laid works in the future. This is part of a longer-term requirement to have EV charging infrastructure at this site.”
