YOUR VIEWS: Flood fears in Inverness district and planned city bank closures

Flats plan sparks fresh flooding fears

Flooding fears have been raised by worried residents of an Inverness neighbourhood over plans for a dozen flats on the hillside overlooking the Muirtown Basin. Plans for 12 flats on land accessed by Scorguie Road have been lodged with Highland Council.

“Once again the only people who benefit from this are the developers and not very good ones proven time and time again. It’s about time the council, instead of looking at how much tax it will bring in, look at the problem with this area s it is that they can’t sort out. Only going to compound the problem.” - Tom Macdonald, Inverness

Councll attacked over schools access protocol

Highland Council has decided councillors, MSPs and MPs must get permission from education bosses before visiting schools in what has been labelled “an assault” on their ability to represent locals. A new protocol was agreed on April 8 after MSP Edward Mountain raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament.

“Oh dear. Highland Council officers should NEVER be able to block elected members (or MPs or MSPs) from visiting any school. What a bureaucratic ‘solution’ to a non-problem. What could they have to hide?” - Donald MacKenzie, Inverness

Bank set to close two Inverness branches

RBS announced it is to close two Inverness branches as part of a Scotland-wide raft of closures that will lead to the loss of 105 jobs. The bank’s owners Natwest will close the current Eastgate Shopping Centre and Inverness chief office Harbour Road branches though it was later confirmed the banking giant plans to open a new £2.5 million “flagship branch” within the Eastgate Centre.

“I’ve lost the Beauly branch, then the Dingwall branch and now the Inverness branch. It’s like they don’t actually want customers.” - Douglas Iannetta Hardie

“Douglas Iannetta Hardie, they don't deserve customers.” - Kate Bell

“Been with them from my first job many moons ago,so much for loyalty!!!!” - Ann MacKintosh

“Absolute disgrace, apart from the folk that are losing their jobs what about the elderly that can't use online banking etc.” - Janet Russell

“I hope every one remembers this cause I for one will definitely close all my accounts and take my business elsewhere.” - Ross Mckellar

“Going into the Eastgate to do banking is not desirable. And parking isn't cheap.” - Sophie Smith

“Oh well have to change bank, been with them years.” - Susan Hall MacDougall

“Shocking to lose both banks in inverness, makes no sense at all.” - Emma-jane Swanson

“Emma-jane Swanson, It makes perfect sense if all you are interested in is making as much money as possible and couldn’t care less about your customers. BOYCOTT ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND. I remember standing in a long queue in the RBS a few years ago. A member of staff was approaching each person in the queue and encouraging them to use the automated pay in system and also telling them that they should consider going online. Like some of the others I insisted in waiting in the queue until I was able to transact with a teller face to face. I opinionated that lots of jobs would be lost if we all took her advice and went online or used the sometimes glitchy pay in machine in the branch. She assured me that nobody is going to lose their job as a result of the technology. I wonder what all the bank staff in that formerly busy branch are doing now. Maybe they’re working in a call centre dealing with all the cases of online fraud.” - Alan Roberts

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