BUSINESS INSIGHT: An ‘echo chamber’ approach to change persists in Inverness
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By Craig Duncan, co-chairman of Inverness BID
Having trust and confidence in local decision-making is essential yet the ongoing disregard for existing businesses, in respect to their views and viability applies to both the Academy Street proposals and the revisiting of the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club planning application. We extend our best wishes to ICTFC for March 14 when their matter will next be decided.
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As for Academy Street, most welcome and support investment including to achieve an aesthetic improvement, but we are not alone in our having raised serious concerns which have to date been ignored or not satisfactorily addressed with any claims made to the contrary being neither reflective of reality nor credible. Crown Community Council have also recently launched a public petition to help raise awareness of issues including the traffic displacement impacts to their area.
We make no apology for continuing to strongly advocate for our community as well as for others to have a genuine say and we will persevere in highlighting issues related to their interests but we recognise our ability to receive a fair hearing at this juncture is, given events to date, highly unlikely. An ‘echo chamber’ approach to change persists or to put it another way, irrespective of consequences, proponents appear hellbent.
Our businesses and other stakeholders are therefore warmly invited to attend our next BID Breakfast for a further update on March 18, at the Spectrum Centre, from 7.30am-9am.
