Your views: Inverness city centre street revamp bid and taxi fares to go up
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Proposed changes to Academy Street
Concerns must be addressed and we are working hard to do that. We should see this as a huge positive for the city.
The success of these projects in other cities has been evidenced. In Dundee, business owners in Union Street speak of a “street community”, “more vibrant” and 77 per cent of people in Dundee think space should be increased for pedestrians, socialising, cycling and walking on their local High Street (Sustrans).
In Manchester, Dean Street “we derive a lot of our business from footfall”, “it feels like there are a lot more people on foot around our business”.
Following the decision, which no councillor voted against at committee, to proceed with the Option B proposal for Academy Street, I believe it is important to keep everyone informed and included in the ongoing development of this project. Now that this has been approved, the Scottish Government will be approached for funding.
This follows their National Transport Strategy 2020, where people were placed as the priority. There is a climate emergency and the Highland Council has to play its part in helping reduce pollution and promote active, sustainable travel.
There continues to be a public consultation, and of course, local businesses are a much-valued and an important part of the Highland economy and we want to work with them as much as possible.
To confirm, Academy Street will be open for buses, taxis, blue badge holders and delivery drivers. It will be a safer place which prioritises pedestrians, cyclists and wheeling.
Concerns have been raised about access to the city centre itself, and we should listen and find solutions.
To confirm, all current car parks will remain open and accessible, either from Longman Road, Millburn Road, the West Link and Glenurquhart Road. There is no need to drive up to the residential areas of Crown.
In the background, there are discussions and planning around park and ride options. We will hear more about this in spring. This is in line with the Bus Partnership Fund that the Highland Council have been awarded by the Scottish Government. Together, with plans for improved bus service infrastructure.
We must remember why we are doing this. The health benefits of reducing the pollution cannot be overestimated. Currently, children in pushchairs are level to exhaust fumes.
Academy Street was given the disturbing title of most polluted street in 2021 by Friends of the Earth Scotland.
Asthma UK advise that people avoid roads with built up traffic and The Lancet have published evidence that proves mixed traffic-related air pollution aggravates pre-existing asthma as well as contributing to new-onset asthma.
Cleaner air will attract more pedestrians and cyclists, who will spend when they come. Currently, vehicles driving down Academy Street do so as a through road, not to shop.
We have a chance to create a cleaner, more desirable city centre for locals and visitors alike.
Instead of Academy Street being a congested and polluted thoroughfare, let’s make it a warm and welcoming destination.
Councillor Jackie Hendry, Inverness Ness-side
Were those Highland councillors who backed option B at a recent meeting aware that the £800,000 of funding, which they were told would be secured if they accepted B, would be just 10 per cent of the total cost?
The Option B proposals show Highland Council at its worst. The damaging Spaces for People restrictions would become permanent and cars would be banned from Academy Street.
This would damage or destroy local businesses, inconvenience many, and shift traffic to other routes, such as through the Hill District or Harbour Road, and for no clear benefit.
Councillors should have told planners to scrap all the restrictions and properly reopen the road. We must all have seen problems of emergency vehicles unable to get through the narrowed street.
Highland Council must listen to businesses and residents and not spend our money on something so damaging, just to suit a tiny number of anti-car folk.
Donald MacKenzie, Crown Drive, Inverness
It beggars belief how little thought has been given to Academy Street traffic changes.
Academy Street is the main artery running through the town centre – cut that off and you can no longer use Union Street (one way from Academy Street), you can no longer use Queensgate (one-way from Church Street exiting on to Academy Street), you will no longer be able to use Strothers Lane from Academy Street to the bus station.
Perhaps more thought has gone into this than I give the council credit for with the main purpose of this change being for you to give up your car.
Jack Catto
Closing down Academy Street to vehicular traffic – who in their right mind came up with that one? Our councillors I suspect.
Why not just close down the business community in the town centre now?!
Bruce Mackay, Inverness
I fear that further traffic restrictions will both kill trade in Inverness and cause increasing chaos and frustration to drivers who need to drive through Inverness.
Roberta Robertson, Kirkhill
Council rules taxi fares to go up in February
Twenty per cent is way too much of a rise.
All it’s going to do is put the public off using taxis.
Times are tough as it is, so folk will only end up using taxis as a last resort and some of the most vulnerable people are the ones who will be most affected by
this.
Lee Warde, Alness
I wonder why the owner of a taxi company speaks about raising the fare, since he earns by collecting the weekly fee from the drivers?
The Highland Council collected feedback from all drivers, why haven’t the results of these opinions been published?
Pawel, Inverness
Is this in the plan to get people cycling and walking?
Michael Kirkland
