Home   News   Article

Call made for more Covid warnings on popular Inverness bridges


By Louise Glen

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Joan Stewart - we need signs on the bridges to remind people that they can not pass safely on them.The community council would like the same signs that they have on other bridges..Picture: Callum Mackay..
Joan Stewart - we need signs on the bridges to remind people that they can not pass safely on them.The community council would like the same signs that they have on other bridges..Picture: Callum Mackay..

A plea has been made for permanent signs on city centre bridges after users are reporting time delays of up to 30 minutes to cross.

Due to Covid safety measures, some of the foot bridges that connect the city with the Ness Islands are not wide enough to allow people to pass, but there are no signs to warn people of the danger, says the area's community council.

The bridges are regularly used by dog walkers and people enjoying the area close to their homes, but in spite of plea – for the last nine months – from Ballifeary Community Council, there are still no permanent signs, like those Highland Council have placed at the Infirmary Bridge.

Community councillor Gill O'Connell said: "For nine months now the Ballifeary Community Council have been asking Highland Council to put up proper signs in the narrow bridge to the islands asking people to be Covid aware and to give way to people on the bridge.

"It's a total nightmare especially at weekends.

"I was there at the weekend and waited half an hour and still people in groups were coming into the bridge when I was half way over."

She explained: "The bridge is so narrow it's not possible to distance from folk, and people need to be reminded that Covid is in the rise.

Helen Smith, chairwoman of Ballifeary Community Council, said: "I think there may have been a little bit of confusion with our request, as laminated signs were put up on the bridges that have now been blown away,

but what we would like are the same permanent pavement signs similar to the ones put up on Infirmary Bridge.

"I have been speaking with the council over the past few days and renewed our request, that we made last March."

Fellow community councillor and dog walker Joan Stewart added her concerns, she said: "We need signs on the bridges to remind people they can not pass safely on the bridges."

Joan Stewart - we need signs on the bridges to remind people that they can not pass safely on them.The community council would like the same signs that they have on other bridges..Picture: Callum Mackay..
Joan Stewart - we need signs on the bridges to remind people that they can not pass safely on them.The community council would like the same signs that they have on other bridges..Picture: Callum Mackay..

Councillor Ron MacWilliam, chairman of Inverness Community Planning Partnership transport group, said: "I have written to officers to request that proper signs are installed at the entrance to the bridges to remind pedestrians of their responsibilities and of the need to courteously allow others to pass before embarking on a narrow footbridge."

A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The council has installed Covid signage a number of times and it has been removed.

"We therefore resorted to plastic markings which have been placed on the adopted footway network on both sides of the Infirmary and Greig Street Bridges and they have been effective. Arrangements can be made to order additional markings for the Ness Islands but there will be a delay as these are manufactured.
"In the meantime temporary signs will be erected on all approaches to the Ness Islands.”


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More