Inverness business opposition to Highland Council plans for Academy Street mounts
OPPOSITION to Highland Council plans aimed at cutting traffic on a major city centre street is growing, as business leaders warned it would be “disastrous” for trade.
A dozen owners of businesses situated across the city centre got together this week to describe how they feel “absolutely ignored” by the local authority and fear inward investment in the area could be halted for years if the plans go ahead.
In November, councillors approved the progression of plans that would severely limit traffic access to Academy Street.
Businesses say they were told during consultations on an earlier proposal that traffic would still get access, only for officers to produce the 11th-hour alternative.
The £8.5 million proposals would cut vehicle movements from 9500 a day to 2500 though emergency and deliver vehicles as well as public transport would still get access.
Willie Gray, owner of property development firm Ark Estates, said: “Where I see that there’s going to be an issue initially is that this is going to create uncertainty – and uncertainty means that confidence will go, and nobody’s going to invest in the city centre if they’re not confident of what’s going to happen.”
Fraser Campbell, managing director of Cobbs Group, said: “For me it is a wee bit like a dictatorship – we’ve just all got to button down and put up with it, they don’t actually consult with us as business people. That is sad because we’ve got a lot of input that could actually make things a lot better if they’re able to work alongside us. We have absolutely been ignored, they don’t listen to us one bit.”
Cru Holdings’ Scott Murray said: “City centre businesses, and the peripheries, are probably just sick and tired now of not being given a voice.”
A Highland Council spokesman said: “Whilst concerns from local business owners are noted, it is important to clarify that pedestrianisation of Academy Street is not being promoted by the Council. It also important to highlight that the main aim of the project is to reduce through-traffic, which is an aim that was supported by the businesses that responded to the recent public consultation.
“It is considered that the project will transform Academy Street into a welcoming, attractive place where people will want to dwell, contributing to the vibrancy and vitality of the city centre, which are key aims of the Inverness Strategy and Inverness One City, One Vision document.”
