Campaigners seek support in opposition to riverside artwork plan for Inverness
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The OpenNess campaign group is continuing its efforts to convince Highland Council to rethink its plans for a riverside artwork.
The group will be at the fishermen’s hut on the banks of the River Ness on Easter Monday to gather more names for its 1800-strong petition against the plans which were approved by council officers using delegated powers.
OpenNess would like to see them referred to councillors for broader discussion.
Having failed to have the matter discussed at a special meeting of the city of Inverness area committee, Inverness Ness-side councillor Ron MacWilliam accused the council’s political administration of going into “meltdown” over the issue.
“The council administration is increasingly sensitive to all forms of scrutiny and criticism, which is a sure sign of meltdown within,” he said.
“Things are undoubtedly tough, but they’re not helping themselves by hiding from scrutiny.
“I’ve been waiting for a reply to my calls for a special meeting of the Inverness city committee for months.
“Going to ground is never a clever political strategy and if the provost chooses not to announce that meeting date soon, there will rightly be calls for her resignation.”
The Courier has tried to contact the provost for comment on several occasions, but has not received a reply.
Defending the planning process around My Ness, a council spokeswoman said publicity surrounding the application for planning permission in December had been high profile and also argued that community councils had access to the council’s weekly list of planning applications.
