Green light for divisive Academy Street revamp as council decides it has to act
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Highland Council will proceed with divisive plans to redevelop Academy Street by slashing traffic through the city centre by 75 per cent – but nothing will be done before a final vote by members.
The Inverness committee narrowly voted in favour of the proposals 12 to 10 along party lines after a debate balanced between what the public and businesses did or did not want, and on the need to deliver change.
The views on that were more complex as the project as a whole was variously described by critics as “dubious”, “deplorable”, an “own goal” – and one councillor even accused the council of acting like a 19th century Laird.
Supporters said it was “time to act”, a “vote to enhance the city”, “it is a culture change – we need that”, “we need to encourage a desirable environment”, and “no one is proud of Academy Street.”
Officials assured those present that the decision taken is not the final word and that there will be another more decisive ballot after an independent economic impact assessment has been made – a key issue for businesses.
Those who objected to the proposals from the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the Conservatives and non-aligned independent councillors made many more individual points than those in support.
Starting with the opposition call for the proposals to be put to the public to decide in an “advisory style referendum” with a five stage process including an economic impact assessment, “meaningful” consultation, a trial period and then a public vote.
Arguing for his amendment Councillors Alasdair Christie said: “I think we need to reflect on the disrespect that has been shown to businesses by not doing an economic impact first – it is deplorable.
“That is the first thing we should be doing and saying we've done an economic impact assessment, that's what it means for your business. If we're going to decide it based on how many emails we've had in our inbox, then crikey – we might as well not be here. Not just saying it'll be alright on the night.”
He added: “When the music stops will there be any businesses left?” which received applause from many of the businesses sitting in the public gallery.
Cllr Helen Crawford believes white collar businesses will move to business parks and take their clients and that could signal the death knell for the smallest operators, asking: “Which councillor would vote for that?”
She said: “So what are we saying, what is this council saying to the small independents – Inverness is closed to you? They are often at the forefront of sustainability, what an own goal that would be for an active travel sustainable initiative to close them down.”
Cllr Andrew MacKintosh said: “We are not opposed to change but it must be changed for the right reasons, based on consensus – we must take people with us.
“The days when any form of government, particularly one bedded in the community as councils are, can behave like a 19th century Laird and hand down instructions to the population on the pieces that we know best – those days are gone. We must take people with us.”
He added: “There is a perception, and I don't disagree with this perception, that it wasn't true consultation. It was very much a case of us talking at or to people, asking them the questions that we wanted to hear.”
Running against those arguments, the economy and infrastructure committee chairman Cllr Ken Gowans backed the move to change Academy Street saying it is time to act.
He said: “You can, at long last, vote to enhance the city, reducing that pollution and the associated health dangers associated with air quality, dramatically the risks for residents and visitors alike.”
But he also seemed to be the first administration member to honestly acknowledge that the changes may actually hurt city centre businesses, when he said: "Clearly there is no gain without some pain."
Ultimately Inverness leader Cllr Ian Brown said there is more work to be done and he would be talking with traders throughout the city centre.
He said: “We are now going through the normal statutory processes and we are looking to bring businesses with us because we can’t keep this distance between us – we have got to find some common ground.
“I think we just need to talk, face to face, I am not a lover of great long emails. You can tell the truth to someone’s face and if you tell a bit of a porky it is noticed so I prefer face to face, so I will be doing that because we need to bring businesses closer to us.
“None of us can tell the future but we do know that Academy Street is in desperate for something to happen, something positive we are confident that once the work is complete it will bring footfall – it is all about footfall.”
