YOUR VIEWS: Good riddance to Academy Street plans - or a lost opportunity?
Steps to be taken after Academy Street plan dropped
Now that Highland Council has at last seen some sense and abandoned its Academy Street plan, I would suggest that the items below represent the minimum next steps it needs to take to begin to atone for and correct the almighty mess it has created through this ill-conceived notion:
Immediately remove all the ghastly battered black and white poles from Academy Street and elsewhere.
Freshen up the road surface with new white markings and the repair of potholes.
Make public how much Highland taxpayers’ money (including staff costs) was wasted in pursuing this project since it was first mooted.
Institute right across Inverness a review of traffic flow, which has been a complete shambles for years, ensuring that the group carrying it out has independent representation to guarantee the integrity of the findings.
In order to restore seriously ailing public confidence in the council, commission an investigation by an independent body into the conduct of councillors and officials with respect to the now aborted scheme, and implement any necessary disciplinary action.
Institute a detailed survey of cycle lane usage throughout Inverness - again by an independently scrutinised group. Convert any lanes that are barely used back to use by motorised traffic.
Charles Bannerman
Inverness
Defective scheme or lost opportunity?
As well as the above people were also quick to share their opinions online after Highland Council’s decision to abandon its Academy Street improvement plans, for both sides of the argument.
“This was a defective scheme that should never have seen the light of day. Just because something is anti-car does not mean it would benefit others. When cycling, I prefer wider lanes- even with lots of traffic - than narrow lanes with less traffic.” - Donald MacKenzie
“Donald MacKenzie, Academy Street is one of the main streets in our city centre. Businesses aren't accessed by bike or by car they are accessed by foot (or wheel - wheel chair users). It currently has very poor accessibility. It is very unpleasant to walk on. Good accessible pedestrian access with a compromise to reduce traffic was what had been planned. Now with petty nit picking we have lost the funding opportunity and we are stuck with Academy Street as it is. Not fit for purpose and not prioritising people or businesses. Just through traffic. The only lesson here is not to even attempt to make this city any better because some deluded self interest will fight and destroy all the hard work and effort put in.” - Katie Noble
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