Highland arts funding, tourist tax plans and year’s wait for A96 dualling timetable
Good news for Eden Court - but concerns remain
I welcome the announcement that Eden Court is to receive £760,000 in 2025/26, rising to £893,000 for 26/27 and 27/28.
As chief executive Rebecca Holt has commented in her vibrant words this week, this welcome news can be really transformative, and I believe will allow Eden Court to further drive forward in its mission.
The importance of the arts cannot be overstated: access to the arts and opportunities for people to experience, and engage in, performance and creativity of all kinds are more important than ever in an age of creeping Artificial Intelligence.
Arts and Culture are vital for our well-being.
I look forward, as a Friend of Eden Court, to enjoying this valuable institution’s varied and rich programme. And I also acknowledge the considerable economic and employment benefits of a thriving creative sector.
And it is certainly good to see the Scottish Government is making some good use of the additional £3.4bn allocated by the UK Labour government from Rachel Reeves’ budget.
But while 251 arts organisations have gained much-needed support, I remain concerned that many venues, museums, galleries, companies, festivals, and freelance artists continue to hang on a fragile funding thread.
So, while the multi-year funding announcements are most welcome, the promise of £100m pa from the SNP 2021 Manifesto has not yet been fulfilled.
That amount would equate to 0.17 per cent of the current Scottish Government budget.
I also hope that, unlike last year, Creative Scotland does not suffer mid-year budget shocks – remember the closure of the Open Fund had a terrible impact on many who sought its support.
So, I’m very pleased for Eden Court and the many delights it brings to life in the Highlands; but the Scottish Government still has work to do to support this essential sector.
Dr Michael Gregson
Highland Labour councillor for Inverness Central
Tourist tax must benefit visitors
Courier columnist Colin Campbell, speaking about Highland Council proposals for a tourist tax said, if it is implemented, it should be accompanied by regular updates on how the money raised is being spent to benefit tourists “who do so much to help sustain and enhance life in the Highlands”.
“What I’m concerned about with this ‘tourist’ tax is Highlanders who like to ‘staycation’ in Scotland or our beautiful Highland area will also have to pay another tax on top of our already soon to increase council/water taxes etc with ever dwindling services. Not exactly a fair tax for all I see is just another stealth tax to add to the many taxes we already pay and spent on follies and so-called ‘art’ projects which do nothing to enhance the area.” - Martin Davidson, Nairn
“Many of my Scottish tourism colleagues have lost faith and trust in the machinations of the Scottish Government in recent years, after consistent refusal to listen to the needs of the industry, and passing the original visitor levy legislation which is seriously flawed. I fear Highland Council may be following exactly the same path. There is a right way and a wrong way to introduce this levy without exposing so many to such potential, inequitable risk. Some of our elected councillors I have communicated with readily acknowledge the flaws, but intend voting for it regardless. A wasted opportunity for potential good.” - David Win, Dornie
Year-long wait for A96 dualling timeline
A timeline for dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Nairn will take at least a year to be published, it has been revealed. In a recent reply to the Inverness Courier’s petition calling for a timeline for works to be released by Easter, Lawrence Shackman, director of major projects at Transport Scotland, said it expects work to “determine the most suitable procurement option” and develop the business case will take a further 12 months - only after which a timetable for progress will be able to be set. This has been confirmed by cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop in response to Parliamentary Questions submitted by Highland Labour MSP Rhoda Grant.
“You’d be as well as telling everyone who lives in Nairn to move house and rehome them in a up and coming town that the council can call something along the lines of New Nairn and bulldoze the actual Nairn to build the road that is never going to happen and then have all the councillors sitting thinking ‘erm, we’re not going to build a road are we???’” - Robert Mackenzie
“1993 I rented a place at Gollanfield, the farmer was showing me the proposed route then…” - Karl Normington
“I saw this in the news when I was 15, I'm 57 this year.” - Roy Giovanni
“So that gives the government nine years to complete it. Judging by the timeline of the four-mile-long ‘Cross Tay link ‘ at Perth, currently in its thirrd year, I won’t hold my breath that I’ll ever see a completely dualled A9 Perth to Inverness in my lifetime.” - Jimmy Hendry
“It’s not happening. I guarantee you nothing significant will change in the next 10 years. The politicians are stringing everyone along indefinitely. There will be far fewer cars on the road in 10 years time so if any money ever does become available then it should be invested in improving the railway infrastructure and bringing in a professional company to run the trains so that far more people can use trains to get to and from civilisation down south.” - Geordie Hamilton
“Whenever they report a delay they then need a report on the delay rather than getting on with it, just stalling for time and they will announce dates along with their manifesto for next election.” - Roddy Wardrop
“The government have had to deal with over 1800 legal objections, mostly to do with the Nairn bypass. It has taken years. 10s millions are being spent right now on land procurement and compulsory purchase. Thousands of very unhappy people. This all happened in the early 90s, resulting in the project being abandoned. Section 2 (Elgin) could be even more difficult legally.” - Gordon Mackenzie
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