One City, One Vision: The Inverness Courier believes after 200 years in print we deserve a seat at the table, Content Editor Andy Dixon says 'we’re willing to do our bit and join the journey to make it more than just a collection of words'
Here HN Media Content Editor Andy Dixon argues that after two centuries representing the views of the people of Inverness it is essential that the Courier be as important to its future as it was to its past.
Inverness Futures Group deserves a major pat on the back. Its One City, One Vision document is an ideal blueprint for how Inverness may look in 2035.
If nothing else, it will start plenty of conversations about the pros and cons of how the Highland capital could and should be developing over the next 14 years.
This 20-page report is easy to digest and marries up much of what we would all like to see in the near future.
It paints an unapologetically ambitious picture of Inverness – and it must be said, accounts for a lot of what the Courier has been pushing for over the last 14 years (at least) with our Reinvent the City Centre campaign.
We too are unapologetic cheerleaders for our city.
We want to see it thrive and for others to be envious of what we have.
There are positive signs with the developments at Inverness Castle, the Victorian Market and in Union Street that things are going in the right direction, but there are other projects like the potential transport hub in Strothers Lane, the future of Upper Bridge Street and the burnt-out former Eastgate Hostel that seem to be making relatively slow progress.
While this document might not offer the sharper detail – and it’s not designed to – it does provide goals to aspire towards that make sense and will undoubtedly be viewed by many as sensible, admirable and achievable.
But to do that, it needs at least one person with connections and drive who can live and breathe it. They need to make sure the objectives are not forgotten and that there is an awareness, desire and focus within local government, business and communities.
There needs to be accountability if this blueprint is to become reality and the Inverness Futures Group seems to understand that by proposing a stakeholder group is established. This group would be resilient to political cycles and changes in leadership.
It is a group the Courier is keen to be involved in, providing a voice for our readers while ensuring any targets and milestones met along the way gain the recognition, acknowledgement and fanfare they deserve.
We’ve been a trusted institution within Inverness for more than 200 years and have been given the respect to reveal the work of the futures group so far in our newspaper today – now we’re willing to do our bit and join the journey to make it more than just a collection of words.
To read the full Inverness 2035 policy document click here
