Our days may be busy, but remember to vote
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IN two days’ time polling stations around the Highlands will open for the local elections.
It is an unfortunate reality that only around half of us will turn out vote for our local councillors when there are few among us who’d deny moaning about the issues this group of 80 individuals control – roads, development, licensing, wheelie bins, the state of our streets, the list goes on...
Many of the people standing for local election are doing so because they have strong beliefs in the way in which their community, this city or this region should develop; or not develop as the case may be.
Others are spurred by a particular campaign issue – windfarms, education, preservation, improvements to local facilities and so on.
Inverness Chamber of Commerce works closely with both elected and unelected officials at Highland Council. Where chamber members feel strongly about an issue, we will lobby the council on their behalf. At other times, representatives from the council will ask our opinion on issues that may affect our members.
We look forward to working with the local authority on a number of key issues — development, procurement and broadband being the key ones for our members at the moment.
Of course, how successful we are at making Inverness a better place to do business depends on the individuals who will sit in the council chamber for the next five years to debate issues and make decisions.
For this reason we urge businesspeople to take time out over the next two days to research candidates for their local ward.
Your vote will help decide whether developments get planning permission and go on to create jobs in the construction sector or if the outdated "Inverness curfew" continues to affect the licensed trade while potentially putting weekend visitors off coming to our city.
I firmly believe the next five years will be exciting for Inverness and the Highlands. We will hopefully finally emerge from this long and painful financial downturn with Inverness Campus welcoming students, businesses and research institutions to a hub of innovation with a growing global reputation.
The West Link Route will be completed and work to dual the A9 and A96 will be underway.
Locals and visitors alike will also enjoy an even fuller calendar of sporting, musical and cultural events; which by now includes a comedy festival and world-class sporting tournaments attracted to the Highlands following the success of the Scottish Open.
And last, but not least, Nigg and Ardersier will be busy again; employing thousands and attracting skilled professionals to the region.
While much of my wish list is beyond the powers of our local councillors, they are the ones who work with us to make sure the needs of our region are answered while Scotland’s bigger cities make their demands.
They can also make Inverness a better place in which to do business by listening to my members’ needs and building a reputation as an authority that favours commerce and encourages business development.
So make time in your diary to vote on Thursday and encourage colleagues and employees to do the same. Our days may seem busy but if you don’t do it, you can’t be heard complaining about chewing gum, pot holes or grass that needs cut.
