Fears over Inverness city centre parking
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RESIDENTS living in Academy Street fear that problems they already face parking their cars will only get worse in the future once planned hotel developments are completed.
Chris Mollitt, who is 49 and lives at 92 Academy Street, said there was no parking provision for his block – despite it originally being recommended there should be a maximum of 47 spaces – because there was on-street parking in Academy Street which has since been removed.
He said: “Most people living in the area are there because of affordable housing and need cars to get back and forward to work, the council try to say use bikes and public transport which is ridiculous as most of the transport options don’t facilitate the needs of starting and finishing times of jobs and locations.”
People living in Academy Street are also unable to apply for a resident’s parking permit because their address is not covered by the scheme.
Mr Mollitt has also suggested using spaces in a nearby multi-storey car park but has been told it would be unworkable by Highland Council.
A council spokesman said: “If we created an overnight permit for Rose Street multi-storey, it would be available to anyone within the city centre, we would not be able to allocate a particular location just because they are council tenants.”
He said loading bays were available overnight, between 6pm and 8am, and added: “The residents’ problem is shared by all city centre residents and all individuals should consider these issues around their circumstances when living in a city centre as there is no obligation on the roads authority to provide residential parking.”
