Highland Council to be pressed for answers on cost of failed Academy Street revamp for Inverness
Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner is set to be put on the spot about the final cost to taxpayers of the failed Academy Street revamp.
At this Thursday’s full council meeting, Councillor Ruraidh Stewart will ask: “To date what has been the total cost incurred by the Highland Council for the failed Academy Street project?
“This should include the expenses for the initial installation of the Spaces for People [bollards], the costs associated with the unlawful consultation [into the revamp plan], the subsequent legal challenge, the reinstatement of Academy Street, and any other related expenditures.”
After months of wrangling, controversy and division the SNP-Independent administration finally accepted in September that it would be best not to continue with the revamp plan which was designed to reduce traffic and increase footfall.
Throughout there was stiff opposition from city centre businesses while active travel activists loved the idea of slashing traffic down to just 2000 movements a day in order to qualify for funding administered by Sustrans.
The project fell apart after the Eastgate Shopping Centre trustees challenged the council’s consultation exercise at Scotland’s highest court where Lord Sandison ruled that it had been “unlawful”.
The cost of the legal fees and work undertaken is expected to at least tally in the hundreds of thousands of pounds but there is also at least £800,000 that the council got for initial planning and work.
The result of the judicial ruling meant that a further £10 million in Scottish Government funding was lost but there has been no word from the council on the final bill.
