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Row over who gets to spend £600,000 fund on Inverness projects at Highland Council


By Scott Maclennan

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Highland Council’s Inverness committee is to rank projects that will be put forward for Town Centre Regeneration cash after an acrimonious debate.

The drama unfolded at the environment, development and infrastructure committee where city councillors successfully lobbied to have any decision on Inverness-area projects deferred.

Now the local area committee will have to rank projects put forward by both councillors and officers with close to £600,000 up for grabs out of a total £2.96 million fund from the Scottish Government to breathe life into towns across the region.

Inverness members had been left furious after officials recommended that three projects – Ardersier Hall renovation and a sports pitch for Inverness Campus as well as public toilets in North Kessock – were deemed ineligible.

Officials proposed projects of their own, including £300,000 for the Victorian Market and for portable light projectors costing £100,000 which some councillors took exception to and also thought were ineligible.

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh councillor Ian Cockburn put forward a motion supported by the committee chairman Allan Henderson to send it back to the Inverness area committee – which next meets on November 21. They also chose to approve a range other projects across the region.

Only Inverness provost Helen Carmichael and deputy provost Bet McAllister voted against taking the projects to city councillors.

Councillor Ken Gowans.
Councillor Ken Gowans.

Speaking afterwards, Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans said: “These were the only councillors in the chamber who did not support the motion, losing the vote 15-2.

“Perhaps Provost Carmichael and deputy provost McAllister should now consider their positions in light of their stance.

“I am delighted the allocation of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund will now be discussed in this open democratic forum. I would like to thank my fellow Highland councillors for taking a common sense approach. This was a victory for democracy and pragmatism.

“This additional money from the Scottish Government has been welcomed across the Highlands and the share for Inverness – around £600,000 – can now be allocated to Inverness area projects.”


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