Businesses are keen to be part of the conversation on traffic in Inverness

City centre businesses want a thriving city centre that is cleaner, greener, more accessible and attractive for people to enjoy. In case you’ve not seen them the Academy Street plans can be viewed at: https://academystreetproposals.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/proposed-design/step1

City centre businesses generally are positive about the design and understanding that change is needed but they remain extremely dissatisfied about plans to ban all private vehicles aside from blue badge holders (subject to funding) from having access to the city centre.

Despite the proposal potentially impacting them greatly they were never consulted about it. Some point out there are other ways to achieve the desired outcomes which they would have raised if they’d been given the opportunity.

Others cite jobs may be cut as a result and one business stated that effectively this will cut the city in half.

Change isn’t difficult when stakeholders are informed and consulted meaningfully and at formative stages so they can influence and share decision making or when it’s implemented incrementally, with reliable alternatives and other incentives in place and if it’s done at the right time and to the right extent.

We will continue to work with others regarding this issue including with Highland Council, Highland Federation of Small Businesses and Inverness Chamber of Commerce.

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