YOUR VIEWS: Academy Street plans - what on earth is going on? Highland Council appeals ruling over its consultation about changes in Inverness city centre
What on earth has been going on behind Highland Council’s decision to appeal Lord Sandison’s judgment against the proposed desecration of Academy Street?
Late on August 29, I became aware that council convener Bill Lobban had that afternoon written to councillors informing them that “we are lodging an appeal…”.
I promptly emailed Councillor Lobban asking various questions, including who would be paying for it, and querying how the Council had arrived at its decision to “keep digging” on this questionable and deeply unpopular matter?
I quickly received a completely inadequate reply stating that it “will” (future tense) be up to the members of the council to decide what to do and claiming that his own involvement was solely to advise members of their options.
I therefore felt obliged to point out that his reply was inconsistent both with his own email to councillors and with Highland Council’s communications office confirming on the Thursday that there would be an appeal - and also that, as the council convener who had given the original notification, the buck must surely stop with him.
Councillor Lobban then abruptly terminated the conversation by declaring that he had nothing more to say.
Public confidence in the manner and transparency of Highland Council’s handling of Academy Street is already low enough, and this arrogant refusal to explain or accept accountability can only create further unease.
It’s clear that nothing whatsoever has been learnt from the major council debacle of the Gathering Place.
Charles Bannerman, Inverness
• EXPLAINED: Highland Council's Academy Street plans and how we got here
I can't believe the council are about to try and waste more tax money, after the judge was so clear they were in the wrong. When they lose (again) they will have to use our taxes to pay for the legal fees of the other side. Are there not better things to be spending the money on than trying to rescue some bruised egos at the top?
Russell Thompson, Inverness
I am saddened to hear that Highland Council are wasting more money on an appeal of the Academy Street debacle. In my opinion, take the stupid posts out which constrict the flow of traffic and spend time and energy on attracting new businesses to Inverness rather than alienating current businesses and those of us who work and shop in Inverness.
Halinka Rands, Inverness
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