New public transport link in Raigmore area of Inverness may finally go ahead
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A long-planned route for buses and emergency vehicles may finally go ahead after previous controversial proposals were rejected following an outcry by residents.
Fresh plans will be submitted this month for a new bus and emergency service connection between Raigmore Hospital and Raigmore Estate.
It follows a public drop-in session at which many concerns previously raised by the local community appeared to be allayed.
The bus link is a planning condition for the new National Treatment Centre being developed at Inverness Campus although the requirement goes back to 2011 when planning permission in principle was granted for the original campus development.
The aim is to improve bus services between the city centre and east Inverness.
But Highland councillors rejected an earlier proposal in December after residents raised objections, citing the felling of mature trees, environmental concerns, the number of bus services passing people’s homes and a lack of consultation.
The drop-in session, at Raigmore Community Centre, was attended by representatives from NHS Highland, Highland Council and Stagecoach.
Issues discussed included the increased frequency of services – four buses an hour in and out of Raigmore Estate at peak times on a route connecting the east of the city at Dalneigh to Culloden and Westhill in the west.
Questions were also raised about the environmental impact of the route which will not now require any trees to be felled and will be serviced by an all-electric, single decker fleet.
Denise Stewart-Thomson, of Ashton Crescent, a leading campaigner against the previous application, felt the new proposals offered a compromise.
“We spoke and they have listened and they have adapted,” she said.
She said the number of bus services had been reduced from what had previously been proposed and the routes amended to serve different parts of the estate.
“I don’t have the strength of objections I had last year but I am aware people with young families will still have concerns about the number of buses,” she said.
Road safety was highlighted with a comparison of road collision statistics in the Hilton and Smithton areas which have comparable bus frequencies to Raigmore and which showed no collisions involving buses.
A reassurance was also given that the vital service provided by the helipad at Raigmore Hospital would not be jeopardised.
Eric Green, NHS Highland head of estates, said: “It was a well-attended event and it was a good opportunity to provide information and, in some cases, reassurance to a broad section of the local community who came along including retirees, families, young people, NHS staff and even a helicopter pilot who flies patients in and out of Raigmore Hospital using the helipad based there.”
The helipad has been central to the design of the new proposed route.
Mr Green continued: “Over the last nine months or so, discussions have happened with NHS clinicians, aviation representatives using the helipad at Raigmore, the Civil Aviation Authority, Highland Council and Stagecoach to identify a route that meets the objectives of prioritising buses throughout the city to make it easier to access services provided by NHS Highland while ensuring that there is no disruption to the flights in and out of Raigmore Hospital via the helipad – the busiest in Scotland with around 500 flights a year.
“Feedback from residents of the Raigmore Estate on the previous design was also taken into account when designing this new route which was recognised by some visitors to the drop-in event this week.
“We do believe that this proposed route meets those objectives. Essentially, it will see a section of road from Churchill Road connect on to the existing internal NHS road infrastructure for the use of buses and emergency vehicles only. It will be barrier controlled to allow for take-offs and landings at the helipad.”
People are encouraged to review the plan and provide feedback.
