BUSINESS INSIGHT: Surely it’s time for a rethink of Inverness’s Academy Street revamp plans?
Our local press has once again been dominated by a debate, maybe even an argument, about the future of Academy Street.
Everyone will be aware that Highland Council are planning alterations to Academy Street, and I’m pretty sure everyone agrees that Academy Street needs improvement. Sadly, that is where agreement ends.
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The scheme would improve cycle lanes and “walking and wheeling”, and would end through traffic. It would not, contrary to many reports, see full pedestrianisation. You would still be able to drive to any part of Academy Street – but not all the way through. Whatever end you start from, you would have to turn off at the half-way point.
There’s been a lot of criticism of Highland Council with many local businesses feeling their views haven’t been listened to and that the council were too late commissioning an economic impact assessment.
It concluded that the scheme represented poor value for money – with a likely return of only 51p for every £1 spent. It also concluded that the traffic and pollution improvements in Academy Street would be offset by a deterioration elsewhere in Inverness as traffic found new routes.
But we should remember that the scheme is aiming to make improvements beyond traffic and pollution reduction. It is ultimately trying to make Academy Street a better place. And scrapping this scheme doesn’t mean there will be money to spend elsewhere as most of it was coming from external funding.
So what next? Inverness chamber members are divided on the issue. Some support the improvements to Academy Street while others worry about the impact on business.
Surely it’s time for a rethink? This time making sure that we achieve value for money and an overall reduction in pollutants, while at the same time properly listening to the businesses that will be affected - in particular about the long period of disruption to business while the improvements are being made.
Surely together we can iron out the problems, because one thing remains certain - Academy Street needs to be improved.
In the meantime I’d urge everyone to checkout the plans and economic assessment and submit their views.
Colin Marr is Inverness Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive.
