Two councillors’ views expose the deep divisions over Academy Street appeal as one says it is ‘deeply troubling’ while a second believes ‘big money has defeated democracy’
The views of two leading councillors on Highland Council’s appeal against the “unlawful” verdict about the Academy Street consultation capture the deep divisions over the project.
Conservative group leader Councillor Ruraidh Stewart believes the local authority leadership “rather than acknowledging their failures and taking responsibility” had “opted to prolong this debacle, risking further waste of public funds”.
On the other hand the leader of the Greens Chris Ballance feels “big money has defeated democracy. Both the full council and the Inverness committee voted in support of these proposals to reduce the traffic flow through the city centre”.
The project ran aground when the Eastgate Centre won a judicial review with Lord Sandison saying: “objectively viewed their [the council’s] actions were calculated to, and did, produce a consultation which was unfair to and beyond the point of unlawfulness”
Last week it was confirmed the council lodged an appeal against that ruling, leading a trader and some councillors to accuse the local authority of throwing good money after bad.
He concluded: “Objectively viewed their actions were calculated to, and did, produce a consultation which was unfair to and beyond the point of unlawfulness” and consequently the council’s decisions were predicated on that “unlawful consultation”.
Cllr Stewart said the decision to appeal shows the council has a “continued disregard for public sentiment and fiscal responsibility” and “those in the administration are doubling down on a course of action that has already been deemed unlawful”.
"The court has already confirmed what we have been saying all along,” he said. “This project was marred by inadequate consultations, improper assessments, and a blatant disregard for the concerns of local residents and businesses. The appeal only highlights the sense of mismanagement and lack of accountability within the council's leadership.
"It is unacceptable that instead of learning from their mistakes, those in administration are doubling down on a course of action that has already been deemed unlawful. The residents of Inverness deserve leadership that listens to them and makes decisions based on sound judgement and transparency, not one that clings to failed projects out of institutional arrogance.
"If this appeal is not withdrawn I will be calling for the resignation of those responsible for this fiasco. Their continued leadership only serves to erode public confidence further. Highland Council needs new leadership that will listen to the needs and voices of the community, ensuring that future investments in our city are both legally sound and economically viable."
The Green group leader Chris Ballance feels that “big money has defeated democracy” but at the same time the three remaining options – appeal, rerun the consultation or drop the project – “none of the options look good for residents, people or shop-keepers”.
He said: “Both the full council and the Inverness committee voted in support of these proposals to reduce the traffic flow through the city centre.
“The council proposals would turn the city centre into a place to drive to, not a place to drive through.
“We now have three options. We can either run the consultation again but we need to find the money for that, follow through the appeal, but we may lose, or do nothing and let Academy Street continue to decay for the next five years.
“None of the options look good for residents, people or shop-keepers. The council will take the final decision on September 19th when we have been shown the private legal opinions.”
