Inverness city centre car-free bid rejected by councillors
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Inverness councillors have slapped down ambitious proposals to give the city centre its identity back after years of under-development.
SNP members Glynnis Campbell-Sinclair and Ron MacWilliam argued it was time for the city centre to be completely reimagined while also making it both greener and cleaner.
But the motion came off the rails amid particular objections to one element of the proposal which sought to investigate the possible pedestrianisation of Union Street and Queensgate.
A number of councillors spoke out about the potential negative effects on local businesses in the area – with some traders saying that it would be “catastrophic” for many shops.
The prospect of turning the area into a café and restaurant culture hub also fell on deaf ears with some arguing that for too much of the year the weather was simply not good enough to sit outside.
Cllr Isabelle Mackenzie highlighted the issue of access for people who cannot engage in active travel options.
“Around the city centre, I don’t want to cut off access for the retailers and also more importantly for people who are coming into the town centre shop local and who cannot walk or cycle,” she said.
“We have heard for years that we want short-term free parking so that people could stop and nip into the shops and this is us saying no we don’t want you to do that discouraging people in some way.”
The past negative effects of pedestrianisation elsewhere in the Highlands was also
“Closer to home and ones that we can learn from and High Streets that we can learn from are – Alness High Street, Turriff High Street and Kirkwall High Street and there other ones too.
“I have to forewarn members that pedestrianisation in itself is not the panacea that some suggest it is.
“I lived through Fort William when it was pedestrianised and it resulted in a complete turnover of almost all the shopkeepers and many, many businesses ceased to operate because of it.
“People still bemoan it now and when it was pedestrianised it was the day a nail in the coffin of retailers in Fort William. I don’t know if we are ready for that.”
Cllr Macpherson said the other point against the proposals was the climate which is not favourable to the cafe culture proposal.
Cllr MacWilliam strongly defended bring the motion to the committee saying that for too long the city centre has been left to stagnate without any local authority intervention.
