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Signs at Inverness Castle point to red faces at Highland Council





The signs at the castle.
The signs at the castle.

HIGHLAND Council is in the embarrassing situation of having to apply to itself to erect signs that are already in place at Inverness Castle.

The council’s own planning rules were broken when High Life Highland, a company running some council leisure facilities, stuck up the signs after having discussions with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) which operates Inverness Sheriff Court and the District Court from the castle building.

The need for new signs came because SCTS apparently was repeatedly being asked by members of the public where the entrance was located for the new viewing platform on the castle’s North Tower.

A Highland Council spokeswoman said: "High Life Highland sought to improve the directional signage for visitors to the North Tower and reduce the number of incidents of Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service being asked where the entrance was.

"In discussion with the SCTS, new signage was agreed. A planning application should have been made in advance of its implementation.

"The current application will regularise the situation."

A decision by councillors on the retrospective application for advertisement consent will be considered soon.

There are five errant signs on the castle grounds – one at the foot of Castle Brae, two at the top of the brae, and one in front of the sheriff court building.

The viewpoint opened in April following refurbishment funded by the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal.

Opening to the public with a free promotion attracting 1500 people over the Easter holidays, the visitor attraction has continued to welcome visitors and guests from all over the world.

On Tuesday, Sarah Allred from San Diego became the 15,000th visitor, along with her husband Brad.

She was presented with a bouquet of flowers to celebrate the milestone.

Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael said: "Inverness Castle Viewpoint has certainly become an extremely popular visitor attraction to Highland residents and visitors to Inverness.

"The view from the top offers a wonderfully different perspective of the city."

The City Deal is designed to secure the long-term economic growth of the region.

The viewpoint will be open to visitors until the end of October


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