Councillor makes 'Inverness mafia' jibe in parking row
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A SENIOR Highland councillor has hit out at an “Inverness mafia” in a row over car parking in the run-up to Christmas.
Led by Councillor Andrew Baxter, the Lochaber area committee voted to allow up to two hours of free parking for shoppers in Fort William after it emerged that other towns such as Nairn and Dingwall did not charge.
However the scheme, which was due to begin last Tuesday, was blocked by Highland Council which claimed the area committee did not have the power to authorise it.
In a scathing attack on the local authority on his Facebook page, Cllr Baxter accused council bosses in Inverness of blocking the scheme unless something similar is rolled out in the city.
“It seems some of the Inverness mafia have blocked it unless they get the same,” he said. “The city of Inverness doesn’t need free parking to attract Christmas shoppers as it is a regional centre and they can use the coffers of Inverness Common Good Fund to pay for large-scale events and other initiatives that attract people to the city.
“And this is on top of Lochaber residents paying more for their parking while councillors elsewhere – particularly some in Dingwall – can delay or block a decision to introduce charging across the Highlands. So, Fort William loses out yet again.”
Cllr Baxter also used the statement to announce his resignation from his chairman role on the council’s care, learning and housing committee but has retained his position as area committee chairman. He did not respond to requests for clarification on who his comments were directed towards.
The council’s communications department also declined to comment but leader Margaret Davidson said: “I am really disappointed to hear such silly phrases used about the serious issue regarding the governance of the council. In fact, it would be hard to understand how the 23 members of Inverness committee could override the wishes of the 51 members from elsewhere. It’s hardly a mafia.”
