Inverness Rose Street multi-storey car park repairs delayed? Work yet to start months after 200 bays cordoned off by Highland Council
Stalled repairs to a key Inverness city centre car park are worrying business leaders, amid concerns that the long-running cut in parking will impact trade if nothing is done.
Around 200 of Rose Street multi-storey car park’s 850 bays have been cordoned off since the summer, after it was announced that a range of repairs were required on the ageing building.
At the time it was reported that the works would last until the end of the year, prompting concern among businesses that vital tourist trade might be lost if the reduced car park hit its revised capacity limit and forced visiting drivers to venture elsewhere.
And those concerns are growing after the height of the tourist season passed with seemingly no work being carried out on the bays at all.
Worries among traders grew further when the Courier approached the council for an update on the repairs and received a response that left questions hanging over whether the work will be finished by December.
For the council appeared to reveal that although money for the repairs has been allocated, a contract for the repair had yet to be awarded - adding that only after that “will [the council] be provided with a programme of works and better understand the time the project will take”.
Responding to the new uncertainty, a spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses was worried over what impact there may be on traders in the run-up to Christmas if the work timetable slips. They said: “Car parking in any city centre is a vital part of the overall infrastructure. This is especially important in Inverness, where many shoppers are travelling into the city from our rural areas and from further afield.
“While the disruption will not be as great as during the peak tourist season, this will impact on local businesses who will already be planning and preparing for the run-in to Christmas.
“It’s very concerning to hear that about 200 spaces in the Rose Street carpark will potentially be out of commission during this extremely important time for small, independent businesses. Many retail and hospitality businesses rely on their Christmas takings to help them weather the economic challenges at other times of the year.
“When it comes to the Rose Street carpark, what compounds their concern is the increasing uncertainty. Although funds are available to make the repairs, any detail around a timeframe has not, as yet, been made public.
“Fortunately, there is still time. The local Federation of Small Businesses encourages the council to get a timeline in place, push these repairs through, and remove any potential negative impact over the critically important festive period.”
Meanwhile, a local councillor whose ward covers the Rose Street car park, said the original plan for the work was for it to be done “by the end of the year - we’re not there yet so I hope it’s on track”.
Cllr Michael Cameron, who represents Inverness Central, also moved to reassure car park users that the site was completely safe to use.
It came after Highland Council issued a statement explaining the reason why bays remained closed despite no work yet being done.
The local authority said that the continued suspension of the bays was “a precaution to ensure the safety of the public by reducing the loading on the structure and will remain until repairs are made”.
Its spokesperson said: “Rose Street car park is 46 years old and is currently undergoing continual assessment and repair to maintain its operational status. 200 of 850 spaces are currently suspended as a precaution to ensure the safety of the public by reducing the loading on the structure and will remain until repairs are made.
“A capital budget has been allocated and a tender has been placed to carry out the repairs.
“Once the structural repair contract has been awarded we will be provided with a programme of works and better understand the time the project will take.”
Moving to reassure anyone who might be alarmed at the reference to “reducing the load on the structure”, Cllr Cameron said: “The structural integrity of the structure is not in question. There’s no risk, it’s them erring on the side of extreme caution.”
He added that there was “no reason for alarm - it’s to prevent further damage [in the interim]” until repairs can be made.
Cllr Cameron also stressed that the multi-storey had been “fully assessed by structural engineers” and if there was “even the remotest sign of danger the whole building would [have been] cordoned off” by the council instead of just some of its bays.
“[There’s] nothing for people to get concerned about and the structural integrity of the building is not in question.”
