Public slam artwork plans for Inverness riverside

HIGHLAND Council has acted like a "bureaucratic juggernaut" in driving through plans for a major riverside artwork without proper public consultation it has been claimed.

That was the view of city councillor Ken Gowans who attended a public meeting called to gather views on the way the planning process for the controversial My Ness project has been handled.

Inverness South member Mr Gowans questioned whether the council was right to argue all proper procedures had been followed after the project was approved by planning officers under delegated powers.

"Whether, technically, everything has been done correctly is not the point," he said.

"It is whether it has been morally correct.

"If people feel they have not been properly listened to then the council need to do something about that."

Members of the public at the meeting organised by new community group OpenNess spoke overwhelmingly against the proposed artwork and the way it had been approved.

The group wants to persuade the council to bring the matter back for further discussion by elected members.

See tomorrow's Inverness Courier for more.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.