Medics give backing to traffic plans for Inverness street
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Two Inverness medics have thrown their weight behind controversial plans to reduce traffic volume on the city’s Academy Street.
Earlier this year, Highland Council published a blueprint for the thoroughfare’s future with proposed traffic management measures including wider pavements, bus lanes and the prevention of through traffic.
Recent studies have highlighted Academy Street as one of the most heavily-polluted in Scotland and the council’s plans would reduce traffic by an estimated 70 per cent.
Moves to re-shape the street with attractive landscaping would be aimed at making it more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, but the plan has provoked polarised debate with concern that some traffic would simply be dispersed to nearby residential areas.
The council’s initial consultation in March drew opposition from some motorists and businesses, but also support from the public.
Emily Williams, Scotland’s first bicycle mayor, was appointed in Inverness last month by an international non-governmental organisation and immediately voiced her support for the council’s plans.
GP Dr Andrew Dallas and hospital consultant Dr Bridie Barnett have now backed the campaign. Their intervention came after the World Health Organisation declared air pollution a health emergency and a study by Imperial College in London highlighted the severe impact it had on people’s health from before birth to old age.
Dr Dallas, of Cairn Medical Practice in Culduthel Road, said: “As a local doctor, I am really concerned about air pollution as it is estimated to cause around 330 deaths per month in Scotland.
“Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. Those living in more economically deprived areas contribute least to the problem but are more exposed to air pollution, which is yet another health injustice. Air pollution is responsible for around 10 times more deaths than road traffic accidents, yet how much do we observe laws that prohibit idling engines?
“If we can switch to more active travel and public transport, we will improve our health directly, with better air quality and increased activity, and indirectly through climate change mitigation.
“It is a win-win.”
Dr Barnett, a medical consultant at Raigmore Hospital, said: “Academy Street is one of the most polluted streets in Scotland. “While other cities have taken steps over the past few years to improve their active travel infrastructure and introduce low emission zones, with subsequent reductions in pollution, we have not seen this change happen in Inverness.
“Air pollution is the single biggest environmental health hazard in the UK, accounting for 36,000 excess deaths per year.
“It causes and contributes to the development of lung diseases, as well as heart disease and strokes, with vulnerable people such as children, the elderly and people with long-term health conditions most at risk.
“Active travel – walking, wheeling and cycling – over short journeys has significant benefits to health as well as reducing car traffic.
“However, many people don’t cycle in Inverness due to the volume of traffic in the city centre and the lack of safe cycling routes through the city. It is critical that we address this now, for the benefit of residents and visitors.“
Mrs Williams said: “It is abundantly clear we need to move away from private car use to prevent premature death and long-term chronic health conditions caused by air pollution.”
