Anti-artwork campaigners step up fight in Inverness
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GROWING opposition to a major riverside artwork has led to a new campaign group being set up, with the aim of giving the public a greater say on it.
OpenNess will hold its first public meeting next week as a petition against the ‘My Ness’ project planned for a site close to the Ness Islands heads towards 1300 signatures.
There are also plans to hold a gathering at the site to highlight the natural beauty of the area as it is.
A spokeswoman for OpenNess, Helen Smith, said the initial aim was to have the artwork plans brought before Highland Council’s south planning applications committee.
She said: “There has been a lack of transparency with the process, with Highland Council taking decisions that impact on the local community, but not really engaging with those communities.”
A planning application for the artwork was submitted by Highland Council on December 20 last year and approved by officers through delegated powers.
Concerns were raised that it did not come before elected members on the planning committee for discussion but so far, attempts to have it subsequently brought before councillors have failed.
The issue was discussed at a heated meeting of Ballifeary Community Council last week.
Inverness city manager David Haas said then there was nothing he could do about the decision, and all procedures had been properly followed.
Mrs Smith said: “Folk have been coming up to me, asking what could be done about it, so we had a meeting on Friday and came up with OpenNess. Ultimately, we want to get this discussed at a council meeting with all the proper information and details at hand.”
“We want everybody who is interested in the artwork or the River Ness to come along.”
The group will have a stall in the city centre this Saturday to publicise the meeting, which will take place on Wednesday, April 3 at the Spectrum Centre. Social media pages will also be set up.
Evelyn Grant, a member of OneNess, said: “For me, the River Ness is the heartbeat of the city and that particular area where the artwork is planned is where the wildness starts.
“My concern is, will the wildlife be moved on? I expect it will be.”
Ron MacWilliam, SNP councillor for Inverness Ness-side, has written to Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael asking for a special meeting of the council’s city committee to discuss the artwork, but says he has so far failed to receive a reply.
He has welcomed the formation of OpenNess, saying the city’s environment needs protection.
“Inverness residents are tired of the endless contrived public consultations and meaningless council sloganeering – it’s time for the local authority to stop charging ahead with every hair-brained scheme that’s mooted and start listening to what people are saying,” he said.
“To put concrete and stone walls on these river banks for no good reason is an act of environmental downgrading.
“It is also inexplicable that common good funds are being diverted into this when the Victorian Market and other vital assets are crying out for investment.”
And he added: “It’s not just the public who haven’t had a look-in either.
“This cash is being splashed without input from elected members and trustees.
“The OpenNess group will hopefully attract a lot of interest and shine some light on the culture of secrecy at the town house.”
The meeting on Wednesday, April 3 will run from 7pm-9pm at the Spectrum Centre.
