Cycling enthusiast calls for Inverness active travel hub rethink
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Activists are maintaining pressure on Highland Council to rethink its plans for an active travel hub (ATH) in Inverness.
After attacking the project as being inadequate Dr Keith Slater, a retired GP, has followed up his criticism of the plans which he sent to city Provost Helen Carmichael with an email to all councillors urging them to rethink their proposals for part of the Rose Street multi-storey car park.
His renewed attack comes after he visited Stirling’s ATH set-up which works on the basis of a shop front directly beside the train station, allied to an extensive workspace at Causewayside.
They offer active travel advice and information; led walks and rides; repair and maintenance classes up to full mechanic training; school bike training; an eBike “library” for people to trial a range of bikes; classes; adapted bikes for disabled clients; bike hire and purchase of re-conditioned bikes at affordable prices; commercial bike repair and maintenance; and a café and social hub.
Dr Slater, of Feabuie, said: “These services are self-supporting and provide in Stirling alone, approximately 18 jobs.
“Vestigial versions of some of these services, plus a number of others, are already being provided piecemeal in Inverness, limited largely by inadequate premises despite the enormous willingness of a few employees and large numbers of volunteers from different organisations.
“The potential to support and expand all of these services is huge, the volunteer support is assured and this is an absolute priority in view of the climate emergency and obesity and pollution crisis.
“This demonstrates why the proposed three small rooms on the planning application from Highland Council are such a missed opportunity. Inverness has the potential to make a massive difference to the environment and health of the people of the Highlands, but adequate space to provide these services is essential.
“For comparison, the floor space of the Inverness plan would easily fit into the retail display space in Stirling and on the same site they have a further five units of the same size, all fully used, as well as extensive outdoor space.
“Something similar in Inverness, giving space and opportunity to those ready to provide this, would confirm Inverness as a real leader in addressing the problems we all face. It would have the potential for improving community involvement, tourism, jobs and health.
“To engage the population, it is essential that access to active travel is made easy and convenient and the environment is made safe and pleasant. An active, inclusive and vibrant ATH in the right place is the essential central focus of this strategy.”
He has been backed by Mick Heath, of Highland Cycle Campaign, who has set out an action plan to campaign for the council to think again.
He said: “The lack of community engagement means that the wrong thing has been designed for the wrong place – an inadequate small base in a distant, disconnected spot beneath Rose Street car park.”
As part of the local authority’s low carbon drive, the Rose Street car park facility in Inverness is set to feature 13 multi-use electric vehicle charging points and eight additional Tesla brand charge points.
The new ATH will also provide local walking and cycling information, cycle hire, a bike workshop and outreach programmes.
A workshop will be held this month to further engage with local groups on the plans.
After this, the council says, the planning application will be amended and re-submitted to reflect requirements and available space.
Rose Street car park is being viewed by the local authority as an ideal location for the new hub given its central location, close to the bus and train stations.
Funding from the project was received from Transport Scotland’s Low Carbon Travel and Transport (LCTT) Challenge Fund and is matched by contributions from Highland Council, NHS Highland and
HiTrans.
