Further calls to scrap Inverness city centre one-way system
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Councillors have again called for the controversial one-way system around Inverness Castle to be scrapped.
There have been widespread reports of driver confusion and long queues of traffic caused by the changes implemented by Highland Council as part of its Spaces for People programme to make social distancing easier for pedestrians.
A city councillor has now called for refurbishment work at Inverness Town House to be suspended.
Inverness South member Andrew Jarvie said removing scaffolding at the bottom of Castle Street would make the one-way system unnecessary.
“It was the only realistic prospect of making the pavements wider in the area around the town house because of the scaffolding there,” he said. “But if this one-way system is going to continue I think we need to look at that.”
He said removing the scaffolding would make the pavements on both sides of Castle Street wide enough for social distancing without the need to restrict traffic movements.
“Obviously it will have cost implications but it does have to be considered because of the impact that one-way system is having,” he said.
Fellow ward member, Councillor Ken Gowans, has also repeated calls for the system to be reviewed.
“It is very clear that the one-way system in Castle Street is not working very well,” he said.
Inverness West member Graham Ross, however, supported the system and rejected calls to remove the town house scaffolding.
“I understand why Andrew Jarvie would suggest it but I don’t think that it is either feasible or practical at this time,” he said.
“To take away the scaffolding and put it back up again would add to the cost.
“There are also stonemasons that are working on it now who have to move on after they complete the work, so to delay it could cause additional problems there.
“We are that close to finishing that we should continue so the scaffolding can be taken away forever.”
Related articles: One-way system to be implemented in Castle Street
Bus blocking Inverness's new one-way system is 'causing mayhem'
'End one-way traffic chaos in city centre'
