YOUR VIEWS: Inverness school repairs and more on Academy Street plans

Readers respond to recent events making the headlines.

Why wait so long for repairs?

Whilst your report (“City school faces ‘severe problems’”, Courier, 5/9/23) outlined forthcoming repairs to the pitiful state of Charleston Academy, it surely is a legitimate question to ask why these repairs have not been carried out before now? Is it really necessary for public buildings to get into such a severe state of decay before action is taken?

James Rorison

Inverness

Could street changes be an improvement?

More Inverness city centre businesses spoke out ahead of a council meeting taking place this week at which plans to reduce traffic movements on Academy Street will be considered, one trader opposed to the plans calling them “delusional”.

“There are many more people who live, work and visit in Inverness city centre who have a voice as well as businesses. They all pay taxes too and want to see businesses thrive. Many studies too numerous to mention over many years show increased benefit to business when areas are pedestrianised. People spend more time shopping, spending more money. Why should a car with usually just one person have precedence over a bus carrying as many as 50. Many people living in Inverness don’t have a car and/or are on low incomes and travel into the city centre on a bus for work and to use businesses. I understand at least 75 per cent of cars along Academy Street are simply passing through, slowing busy buses, disrupting those who wish to shop or putting people off actually coming into town to spend money in shops. Most visitors to Inverness, particularly to the city centre, are not in a car. They arrive by train or bus. All year you can see hordes of them pulling their wheelie trollies from the bus and train station dodging the busy traffic as soon as they leave the public transport stations. Those coming by car can leave them in the plentiful capacity of city centre car parks very cheaply. They can then actually enjoy walking around the city centre and use the local businesses, shops and accommodation which we all hope continue to thrive and innovate and be successful. The Highland Council is hardly delusional. It has consulted at length and listened to the many different people and groups. Many would say that it hasn’t gone far enough and could have pedestrianised much more. Change is often difficult but it is time to move on for the better.” – Alistair Jeffs, Inverness

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