River Ness artwork in Inverness to proceed after Highland councillors question funding legitimacy
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A Highland Council official has revealed more funding has been found to build the My Ness artwork on the River Ness after flaws led to a costly redesign.
The local authority's city manager David Haas revealed “targeted funding” from Creative Scotland would allow the two curved walls on opposite sides of the river near the Ness Islands to be completed.
But some councillors have queried whether the council can accept the cash because a vote at special meeting held last year to decide whether or not to progress the controversial scheme ruled that out.
At the time councillors decided that no more public funds could be spent on completing the project.
However, the campaign group OpenNess revealed that the design of My Ness would make it difficult and even impossible to be accessed by wheelchair users.
A redesign left a £32,000 shortfall in funding so the cash had to be sourced by cancelling other parts of the project.
That still left the council needing around £8000 while Creative Scotland came through with funding of £5000.
Councillor Andrew Jarvie said: “I am not sure that they can take this money because the vote at the special meeting ruled out any more public money being used on this project.”
A spokeswoman for the arts agency said: “Creative Scotland awarded Highland Council £5000 towards accessible design work, safeguarding the existing investment of public funds and enabling completion of the project.
“Specifically, the award ensures the design goes beyond statutory accessibility requirements and ensures that the it is fully accessible for all.”
Helen Smith from OpenNess said: “I am aghast that even more public money is being poured into this ridiculous project. Is there nothing better that Creative Scotland could spend their money on?
“Perhaps a piece of public art that didn't wreck a precious piece of natural habitat, that had the support of local people, and that was designed from the outset to be accessible to everyone in the community rather than having limited access for disabled people cobbled on at the last minute?”
Cllr Ron MacWilliam said: “Having made every attempt to stop this reckless project from going ahead in the first place it was of some mild comfort that the Inverness councillors who are so committed to this folly were shamed into to making a firm commitment to not invest any further public funds when we held a special meeting on this subject in August 2019.
“If they’ve changed their minds behind closed doors and now plan to renege on that commitment they will have reduced the role of Inverness city committee to circus act."
Related article: Work to start on Inverness riverside artwork this spring
