Work to start on Inverness riverside artwork this spring

Work on Inverness's controversial My Ness riverside artwork close to the Ness Islands will start this spring.

Council bosses have confirmed they are ready to start work on the My Ness project after months of wrangling over the cost, design and suitability of the project which will see two curved walls built on opposite banks of the river.

A costly redesign after a public outcry over the lack of wheelchair access also left the project £32,000 adrift towards the end of last year.

The council says that is being addressed, but news of the spring start to work has reignited protestors' concerns about the environmental impact of the work.

OpenNess protest group member Evelyn Grant said: "It is a really stupid time to start in terms of nesting birds."

She also raised concerns about the impact to wild bluebells growing in the area and added: "On top of that the whole area where it is supposed to go has often been underwater since last year."

Councillor Isabelle MacKenzie, chairwoman of the city arts working group which has been leading work on My Ness, said: "There are always understandable concerns about the environmental impact of any development, but we will be looking at this to ensure that everything that should be done is done."

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