Highland Council face new Gathering Place 'artwork' criticism from Visit Inverness Loch Ness chief Jo De Sylva and anglers' doggie statue protest after fencing off part of a city beauty spot during peak of tourist season
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Highland Council is facing fresh criticism after barricading an Inverness beauty spot at the height of the tourist season.
Just as visitor numbers in the city reach their peak, land at the controversial Gathering Place “artwork” across from scenic Ness Islands has been temporarily cordoned off with ugly red plastic fencing.
Thousands of people walked past the area en route to last weekend’s Highland Games at Bught Park, with some thinking the city’s newest artwork – opened last year – was out of bounds.
The local authority insists the timing of returfing work costing £8000, paid for through the Inverness Common Good Fund, was unavoidable given the need to reseed the land during the growing season.
It vowed to remove the barricades at the earliest opportunity, having begun the improvements within the last fortnight. But the council spokeswoman could give no guarantee that the work would not need to be repeated in future tourist seasons should footfall at the site create more erosion.
The row is just the latest to hit the controversial £790,000-plus Ness River art project, which features a much-derided curved concrete walkway by the riverbank near Bught Park – as well as a smaller part on the Ness Islands opposite.
It came as an arch-critic of the “eyesore” project, Steve Watt of Inverness Angling Club, mounted a protest at the site by installing what he described as “real artwork” – a chainsaw timber sculpture of a Labrador.
Costs to the public purse of the Ness artwork have included £106,000 of Highland Council spending and a further £286,750 drawn from the council-managed Inverness Common Good Fund. Lead investor Creative Scotland spent £305,870, while Highlands and Islands Enterprise contributed £66,000.
As we revealed in May this year, council officials then had to dig deep to find further funding for remedial work including resurfacing, drainage and other improvements which it is understood will cost an estimated £30,000 altogether.
Other minor costs have been incurred through foul graffiti sprayed upon the installation.
The century-old Inverness Angling Club has complained of mud and flooding on nearby pathways and blamed the structure’s foundations for blocking natural drainage.
Mr Watt, the club’s vice-president, said: “I acquired the chainsaw carving and we have decided to install it down here to show the council what art really is – not what they’ve built here.
“It is a protest, in the nicest possible way – two fingers to them, really.
“It is quite a substantial sculpture that I have donated to the angling club and a lot nicer for walkers, visitors and anglers than the monstrosity the council has left beside the river.
“The place is looking better than it was, but still looks a mess. I understand that the red barricades are to stop people walking on the new grass, but it is an eyesore and another waste of taxpayers’ money.”
Jo De Sylva, chairwoman of Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN), said: “Inverness is a beautiful city and a place visitors travel thousands of miles to visit.
“It’s important we work together to ensure Inverness is looking its best, especially at the height of the tourist season.
“When parts of the city are cordoned off, it really gives a very poor impression.
“This is a poorly thought-out plan which could have been implemented in a much more sympathetic way.
“I’m not sure the Gathering Place itself is something that would bring tourists to the city, and I still feel the considerable amount of money spent on this project could have been used for something more suitable and sympathetic to the city.”
A Highland Council spokesman said: “Due to the rise in visitor numbers attracted to the area by its natural beauty, and by the Gathering Place art installation, My Ness, improvements have been made to this local amenity.
“This has included placing new turf to help improve the opportunity to enjoy the riverside. Temporary fencing is in place to protect the new turf.
“Turf laying is required during the growing season and outwith winter months. This was the first available opportunity that the works could be done.
“We hope that this will not be required every year but will monitor the impact of usage and wear and tear of visitors around the site.
“The barriers are in place simply to protect the grass while it takes hold. Weather conditions will determine how long the barriers remain, but the important thing is that the grass becomes established.
“We will remove the barriers as soon as we can.
“In the meantime, full access has been maintained to both the fishing beat and the riverside, including My Ness.”
