YOUR VIEWS: Politics, recycling rules and measures for cyclists

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Readers share their thoughts on a range of issues.

Forbes stance ‘will lose the SNP votes’

Up until today I would probably have given Kate Forbes my vote but after her coming out and saying she would have been against same sex marriage she has lost all credibility for me.

I am a straight female in my late 40s who has watched the struggles that same sex partners went through before being given the rights that they should have always had and thought we had come out of these dark times and that SNP who I have voted for my entire adult life were an all inclusive party.

So if she is voted as leader they will lose a vast majority of their voters. It is disgraceful in 2023 that a politician who I actually admired thought that this was an acceptable approach.

Christina Clay

Letter by email

Time to change recycling centre rules

When are the Highland Council going to change their ridiculous rules at the recycling centre?

Presently one is permitted to use their centre with a car or van packed to the brim without having to book a slot yet today l was turned away with four dining chairs in my very small trailer having been told that if they were inside my car it would be fine!

I believe these regulations were introduced at the start of the Covid outbreak for some reason and have remained in place. I would be interested to hear through your columns if any other persons are as mystified as me.

William Morrison

Inverness

Cyclists must be considered at Inshes

A new arrangement at the Inshes Roundabout for vehicles is the subject of a planning application but it ignores the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.

In 2021 Transport Scotland produced a new version of Cycling by Design which included “Within built up areas where a cycling facility is to be located adjacent to a road, there should be a strong presumption in favour of separating pedestrian and cycle movements. In these circumstances, shared use facilities should only be used as a means of delivering route continuity where all other options have been examined and documented in the Design Review.”

There is no Design Review considering pedestrians and cyclists and all proposed new “active travel” routes are shared use. The needs of pedestrians and cyclists are different and the conflict between them on shared use routes will increase as the number of e-bikes increases. The proposals do include advanced waiting areas for cyclists on the roads which is an acceptance that a significant proportion of cyclists will prefer conflict with motorists rather than pedestrians.

A recent consultation on behalf of Highland Council about Millburn Road accepted that cyclists should have a route which is separate from pedestrians and motorists. External funding was provided for this study but the council is not willing to spend its own money on providing appropriate facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

The planning application must be withdrawn or refused and replaced by one that takes into account current standards.

Graham Tuley

Crown Drive

Inverness

Sturgeon ‘will not be missed’ by voters

I refer to your article by Douglas Ross in today’s issue of the Inverness Courier (Legacy is ‘decade of division and decay’, 17/2/22).

The view that he has expressed is 100 per cent accurate. Sturgeon has done nothing for Scotland apart from create division and hatred at a cost of billions. She has done immense damage to Scotland in the eight years she has been in power. I would go further than Mr Ross and would support the repeal of the devolution act, shut down Holyrood and reinstate direct control under the Secretary of State for Scotland. It would save us millions that could be spent sorting out the mess that she and the SNP have made.

Then on page nine you have the tribute to her of our local sycophant, Drew Hendry whose stance on the A9 turned 180 degrees in the space of a week. He says that Sturgeon will be missed is a gross understatement. Believe you and me she will not be.

G Wilson

Inverness

MSP’s views divide opinion

Highland MSP Kate Forbes’s revelation she would not have backed equal marriage had she been an MSP at the time it became law and that she does not support gender recognition laws passed with cross-party support at Holyrood has drawn much comment.

“She’s not the only nor first politician with strong views on a number of issues and it’s not stopped them doing the ‘job’ they were elected to do.” – Jean Slater

“Well, I now fear harrassment. Heavens knows what the Trans community feels now...You have no idea the struggle it was to grow up different in the Highlands. You have equally no idea the bomb your stance has on the likelihood of independence. You do what you want in your church. When you’re a leader you lead for all of us. Not some backward minority of bigots. If you can’t deal with that, we can deal with you - you’ll not get the job.” – Chas MacDonald

“I’d be interested to hear why she wouldn’t have supported it, if she separates her personal feelings/faith from politics. Because that may be more telling than anything. But on the basis I’m one of the very people it would have affected, would I want someone who doesn’t think I deserve the same rights as other people, leading my government…? It’s a no from me Kate Forbes MSP.” – Mike Harrad

“So just like American politics now with the obsession about a politician’s religious beliefs.” – Kevin Hughes

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

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