Inverness traders welcome news that Castle Street will be returned to two-way traffic when the Spaces for People measures are removed by the end of the year
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Businesses in Castle Street have welcomed a decision by Highland Council to remove the social distancing measures by December.
They were part of the Spaces for People initiative which was introduced in the city centre last year as coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased.
However the scheme proved controversial with local businesses, particularly in Castle Street, who claimed that it was affecting deliveries as well as putting people off from visiting the city centre.
On Thursday councillors voted on whether or not to make the arrangements permanent in Castle Street and they were told by officers that it could take until December before the measures were removed.
Speaking after the vote for their removal Norman MacDonald, who runs Café One in Castle Street and has been very vocal against the scheme, said that common sense had prevailed.
He said it was not too long to wait for their removal and added: "Fourteen weeks looks like a long time but it is no time at all. It is understandable because getting materials is not as straightforward as it used to be – every industry is the same. We got the result we were looking for so it is onwards and upwards."
