YOUR VIEWS: Inverness climbing wall closure, Academy Street plans and Highland Council plans for bins
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A number of recent developments exercised readers this week.
Closure of wall is a sad time
High Life Highland (HLH) are increasing their membership subscriptions in order to protect the services they offer. However, their services will be reduced, with the closure of the indoor climbing wall.
We are advised that the new facility, The Ledge, will provide an equivalent experience. This is not true, as HLH offers swimming pools, gyms, as well as a variety of classes, in a variety of locations, while The Ledge only includes bouldering, climbing and a gym.
Pricing is another issue. A year’s HLH adult membership is £298.20, while membership at The Ledge is £520. The Ledge offers no concession for members of state pension age or for young adults, while family membership has to include a child. Many will be priced out of climbing for this reason.
Lastly, HLH has stated that the wall “will close permanently once the new facility opens it’s doors” (Courier, 24/3/23). Unfortunately, it appears that HLH are set on closing the wall on 31/3/23, while The Ledge is not expected to open until later in April, which could be further delayed.
This is a sad time for the local climbing community. Children, particularly, are likely to miss out, with some parents unable to afford both memberships.
Ing-Marie Logie
Resaurie
Inverness
Street plan is just shifting problem
My heartfelt sympathies go to the writer from Scorguie who states in the Courier (243/23) that changes proposed for Academy Street will adversely affect her and other peoples’ lives and how they are discriminated against.
People living in the Carse and Merkinch will also be badly affected as will people from other areas who have to come in and out of the city.
Having to go an extra long journey via Kingsmills or the busy Longman via Milllburn Road is just madness. It is just transferring car emissions from Academy Street to the alternative areas and will also create long tailbacks.
People will no longer be able to go through Academy Street to go to the hospital, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer or the Eastgate Centre.
It will put people off from even going to the city centre and businesses will suffer.
It is obvious that Highland Council is willing to sacrifice the business community in Inverness in favour of a minority of cyclists and the climate change fanatics and unless they are persuaded to change their minds I am sure they will live to regret it.
Council spokespersons are doing their best to try and convince people of how this completely senseless scheme will benefit the city but the only people they will convince will be themselves.
J Maclennan
Castle Heather Avenue
Inverness
Defend the right to strike
The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty, but it is under direct attack from the Conservatives’ draconian strikes bill.
The bill would mean that when workers democratically vote to strike, they could be forced to work and sacked if they don’t comply.
The TUC says this is undemocratic, unworkable and almost certainly illegal.
The government is wasting precious time and energy on this spiteful bill while millions are struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table.
And it will do nothing to solve the staffing crisis in our schools and in the NHS – but only make matters worse.
It’s time our government got its priorities straight.
They should stop attacking the right to strike and give our public sector workers the decent pay rise they are owed.
Mrs GD Cockwill
Kintail Crescent,
Inverness
Strong reaction to bins plans
Plans to introduce a new recycling service – and a new wheelie bin – to Highland households provoked strong criticism from the public. Highland Council will introduce the new bins from spring next year. Existing green general waste bins will be converted to collect mixed containers while blue bins will be converted to collect paper and card and there will be a new bin for general waste.
“Highland Council aren’t distributing the new bins because they are recycling more materials, it’s to have residents sort their own recycling before collection. This won’t change the amount of general waste a household produces but there will be a much smaller bin for it. It’s going to mean those who can will have to make trips to the dump to get rid of the excess general waste and some will just dump it wherever they can. That’s completely ridiculous and counter-productive. The new, smaller bin should be for paper and card because they are an appropriate size and haven’t previously had smelly, dirty general waste in them.” – Kim Corbett
“Not everyone has the space for all these bins, makes our area look a mess and will get worse. And will be less recycling when we can’t use the bin but need to return to shops.” – Elaine Bain
“Crazy typical Inverness council our homes become bin yards.” – Cath Hepburn
“The whole scheme is poorly thought out and an absolute joke. We are not recycling anything new but they reduce the general waste bin size whilst asking us to use dirty bins to recycle our plastic etc. Common sense is severely lacking in the proposal.” – Jo Anderson
“We used to have a separate blue bin just for paper and cardboard, a blue box and they did away with it. Yet another waste of money.” – Jan Duncan
“It’s truly mind blowing the ‘rubbish’ the council come up with. And the way they fritter away money. Unbelievable!” – Karen Macdonald
“Just what we need, another bin, good god.” – Hugh Morgan
Letters should be emailed to newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk. Please include your address and a daytime contact number. You can also tweet us: @InvCourier or leave a comment on Facebook @invernesscourier
