YOUR VIEWS: Derelict buildings, more bus driver woes and climbing wall sadness
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Readers share their thoughts on a range of issues reported on recently.
Time to call it a day and demolish derelict building?
A derelict historic building on the Inverness skyline should be demolished having stood empty for more than 20 years, according to a community activist. The B-listed Viewhill House – located near Inverness Castle – was once the former home of renowned Victorian engineer Joseph Mitchell and later served as a youth hostel.
“I appreciate the efforts of HHBT (Highland Historic Buildings Trust) to try and find a new lease of life for this once proud building, symbolic of the rapid change of the time. But I suspect that Mr Mitchell himself would have knocked it down and perhaps built something contemporary and significant on this important site. What it doesn’t need is a dull pastiche of a period gone by - but a proud addition to the townscape that looks forward not back!” – Thomas Prag, Inverness
What is the issue with recruiting bus drivers?
Stagecoach services in the city centre continue to be affected regularly by a shortage of drivers.
“I find it a bit puzzling, the fact that so many people in and around Inverness are registered as unemployed and on benefits yet normal bus services cannot run due to a lack of drivers. Surely some of those who are unemployed could be trained or retrained as bus drivers. Perhaps the remuneration for drivers is less attractive than benefits, if so, surely the system is very wrong.” – John Mackay, Muir of Ord
Sadness at closure of climbing wall
I have noted with sadness the announcement of the forthcoming closure of the climbing wall at Inverness Leisure.
Having been one of the earliest and regular users of the facility from when it opened in February 2000, and at one point served on the committee, under the chairmanship of the late Hamish Wood, to represent climbing interests, I wish to register my strongest objection to the forthcoming closure.
There seems little point in my letter to you, for I am sure that the closure will go ahead despite all objections that are received, but you should note there is a huge groundswell of dissatisfaction.
Keith Brunskill
Aviemore
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