Leisure centre plea for parking space increase
Calls are being made for roads beside Bught Park to be widened when the Inverness bypass is built.
James Martin, Inverness leisure centre general manager, expects more traffic to use Bught Drive and Bught Avenue when the new £27.2 million route opens.
The controversial western section of the bypass will connect the A82 to Dores roundabout and includes a new roundabout near to Queen’s Park Athletics Stadium, built on some car parking spaces at the centre.
Although Mr Martin has been told there will be alternative parking available, he is concerned there are no plans for direct access to the centre.
"It seems that the availability of space wouldn’t allow for that to happen," he said.
"Ultimately all this means is that our customers will simply access the centre along Bught Drive as usual — that said, we have suggested that in order to accommodate the undoubted increase in traffic that this road could in fact be widened to allow for parking laybys."
He stressed roads were already busy and suggested widening them would be viable due to their large grass verges.
The idea was pitched as Mr Martin and Charlie Forbes, former president of Inverness Harriers, sought assurances from Highland Council officials and its design consultants, Capita Symonds, on the impact of the new road which is unlikely to be built before 2014,
"Located at the gateway to the Great Glen, the new road offers a brilliant opportunity for this area of the city to surpass many of the other sporting and leisure hubs across Scotland by way of access, location and facilities," Mr Martin said.
The chosen bypass route affects several sports organisations including Highland Rugby Club, Torvean Golf Club and the Highland Wildcats American football side.
In March councillors ignored a ground-swell of public support for a high-level bridge over the River Ness and Caledonian Canal protecting green space and chose a low bridge across the river and?another swing bridge at the canal.
A council spokeswoman said it was holding a series of meetings with sports organisations and landowners, which were "very constructive".
"We will be looking at the various suggestions and proposals put forward and how these can be fitted in with the detailed design as the project progresses," she added.
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