YOUR VIEWS: Town House saga: 'last time I checked, Glenurquhart Road was still in the Inverness city area'
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Rest assured, council HQ is still in Inverness
The Town House is a magnificent building but, much like Alex Graham being Provost, is a throwback to the past.
Constituents can rest assured that the move of 0.5 miles should have little impact on localism and that last time I checked, Glenurquhart Road was still in the Inverness city area which includes Fort Augustus, Farr, Beauly and Ardersier to name just a few of the places that aren’t Inverness but are represented.
Councillor Michael Cameron, Inverness
It pays to shop around and shop local
As the Highlands’ leading business organisation, the Federation of Small Businesses repeatedly points out the importance of small businesses to local economies and communities, as well as the many direct benefits that come to those who shop local.
Having recently driven home from Oban to Sutherland, I was struck by the obvious change to pricing strategies exhibited on supermarket petrol station forecourts, something highlighted by the RAC in early September. Simply put, supermarkets are no longer the automatic go-to places to buy the cheapest fuel – far from it.
Prices fluctuate the whole time, but right now you can buy unleaded in Beauly for 153.9p/litre, while in Inverness, Tesco charges 160.9p/litre. Meanwhile, in Tain, Asda is charging 164.7p/litre and Tesco is 165.9p/litre, while the independent is charging just 161.9p/litre. This pattern continues anecdotally across much of the region and the message is simple: now, more than ever, it pays to shop around and shop local – on every level!
David Richardson, Dornoch, Sutherland
Help veterans stay off streets this winter
As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, we welcome any action to prevent the very real possibility of more people ending up homeless on our streets.
Since the start of the pandemic, charities have seen a rise in the number of homeless Armed Forces veterans seeking their help – some report an increase of 50 per cent. We are also seeing people with more severe and complex needs.
When someone has served their country, the least we can do is support them when they make the move back to civilian life. Yet every year thousands of veterans end up sleeping rough, sofa surfing or living in unsuitable hostels because they’re unable to access housing and slip through the net. The cost-of-living crisis will only make the situation worse.
The Armed Forces Covenant states that anyone who has served should face no disadvantage and that veterans who are especially vulnerable should be prioritised for support.
It’s vital that when someone needs help with housing, they are asked whether they’ve served in the forces. If they have, this should be recorded. Once identified, they can be directed towards support that’s available.
We are concerned that without action, things will get much worse. A more co-ordinated approach between local authorities, housing providers, homelessness charities and veterans’ organisations is needed.
No one wants to see more veterans on our streets this winter. Those that have served, often through the most trying of times, deserve better.
Richard Gammage, No Homeless Veterans Campaign (www.nohomelessveterans.org.uk)
Solution to local authority’s housing issue?
With the present turmoil in the housing market and the lack of local authority housing, would this be a good time for the council to buy back ex local authority housing as it comes into the market?
Having been tracking prices in the Courier, they would be unable to build similar homes at the rate advertised.
This, in a small way, may help the present situation.
Ian J Fraser, Oldmill Lane, Inverness
Early learning and childcare ‘at risk’
Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) is being put at risk by Highland Council plans to deal with its own “financial crisis” and the wider cost-of-living crisis, according to opposition councillors. It comes after moves to freeze funding despite concerns from providers that they are already under-funded.
“I can’t believe that the Highland Council believe that early learning years funding should be cut. These are the most important years of our children’s lives.
“These children are our future. We need them to have the best start to their young lives and to be supported by the best trained early practitioners, who have a sense of worth at a job that is so important to our young children.
“Please don’t cut this funding.”
Andrea Jack, Fortrose
“At this time when people have gone through so much and some are at rock bottom, where is it possible that this funding cannot be raised not cut back.
“A lot of money is being awarded to councils to help not just families, but if this council can honestly say hand-on-heart that they cannot get extra money to fund this, especially as Scottish Government has been allocated a further large amount of money to help others, and early learning is the foundation that develops children, this cannot be neglected due to hourly rates.
“Every single one who works with the tiny tots to the pre-school have to be given the very best – that cannot surely be overlooked and has to be given the funding that is not only needed but is essential for the early learning establishments to survive.”
Aileen Harrower, Bannockburn, Stirling
