Secret Thinker wonders who should decide the future of Inverness's Academy Street: Highland councillors or the public?
Monday is shaping up to be a big day. A decision to be made be a handful of Highland councillors representing the Inverness area could have ramifications for the city and beyond for years to come.
Put simply, they will either choose to go ahead with plans put together by Highland Council officials that will revamp Academy Street – arguably the main artery road in the city centre – in a bid to restrict vehicle access while aiming to make it more attractive to walkers and wheelers (also reducing carbon emissions) or they will scrap the plans and strip away the bollards introduced during the pandemic as a measure to aid social distancing.
Discussions outside of council chambers have kept this in the spotlight for months. Rightly so, given how much of an impact the decision could have.
But if we turn back the clock, we know the council has wanted to make changes to Academy Street for years. Lots of artist's impressions have been produced and although the most recent are the prettiest (probably due to technology), does it mean they are the best?
Then again, what does the existing state of Academy Street say about the city? We're in a cost-of-living crisis. Businesses are facing challenges. Some have closed as a result. Others fear for the future. It's arguable that Academy Street is microcosm of the wider area as it has such a mix of established, successful businesses as well as recently opened new-starts, along with (sadly) empty premises (some which have been empty for months), as well as one or two that are under development with exciting futures.
It paints a contrasting picture and everyone will have their own views and opinions on what should happen next. Some will love the idea of change, some will fear it could be too much – while others may worry the disruption during the changes will be unsurvivable.
This all means that this group of councillors who will be asked to decide this on Monday must know their stuff. They need to be aware of both sides of the coin. They need to be comfortable with what they vote for and the implications, whether seen or unforeseen, that follow because they will be accountable. People need to be able to trust them entirely that they have made the right choice because of the evidence – not based on whether a pot of funding can be dipped into or whether turning their back on it could somehow alter the local authority's reputation or whether there is some form of possible legal challenge.
If it isn't the right plan or the right time, then it isn't right. If it is the perfect plan and the perfect time, then it is perfect. However, if this group isn't solid in its decision, then perhaps there are other ways.
Perhaps the council-imposed ultimatum before them on Monday can be swerved neatly by deferring the matter in favour of carrying out some sort of trial period. If officials try to block this, remind them that the public voted for you to represent them. They did not vote for the officials. Any test of the proposals would have to be long enough to allow for proper assessments to take place – assessments of how the public respond, given their reaction is at the heart of it all. People's responses to the experiment will show what changes mean in terms of active travel, dispersed traffic and impact on businesses and the economy.
Following that, there should be enough evidence to indicate the next move. If not, and the waters are still muddy, do the democratic thing and ask the public. Stage a local referendum on the topic. Hold hustings events for both sides of the argument and convince the majority of people living in the Inverness area that Academy Street's future is up to them. At least that way, everyone has the chance to have their say.
