Highland Council agrees hugely controversial Academy Street plans despite opposition
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Hugely controversial Highland Council proposals have been agreed by Inverness councillors.
It is a blow to a campaign by city centre businesses to get the local authority to rethink the project.
Officials will now move to the next stage of planning but councillors will get at least one more chance to vote on whether to proceed with finalised plans after an independent economic assessment.
The proposals have been among the most divisive to hit the city in recent years and that was reflected in a contentious debate in the chamber that led councillors to vote narrowly along party lines to support the plans.
Committee members were given an ultimatum – either proceed to slash traffic by 75 per cent, divide Academy Street in two, divert traffic up Strothers Lane, while traffic from Church Street will be directed up Post Office Avenue.
Or else members could vote to remove the bollards and re-instate the carriageway to its original width.
Legal action?
Prior to the debate councillors were made aware of a letter from top law firm Burness Paull representing the Eastgate Centre which states that it would proceed with legal action “without further notice.”
The issue for the Eastgate is that the committee agreed to what it argues is an option that was developed out of “feedback” but was never properly or fully consulted upon as well as the lack of an economic impact assessment.
The meeting was paused at the start of the item in order for members to take legal advice in private from the council chief solicitor but that did not appear to make any difference to the debate.
Referendum rejected
A major opposition challenge called for the public to decide in an “advisory style referendum.”
Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Alasdair Christie called for a five stage process including an economic impact assessment, by a trial period concluding with an advisory referendum.
But that was not accepted at a vote placing the SNP-led council administration in the embarrassing position of standing against a referendum.
Cllr Christie argued that the plans as they stand, without a completed economic impact assessment, are "deplorable", like buying a house and only then conducting a survey.
He said his amendment would re-order the process so it made sense by checking the impact on businesses, ordering a trial and only then concluding plans.
'No gain without some pain'
The chairman of the economy and infrastructure committee Cllr Ken Gowans backed the move to change Academy Street but admitted: "Clearly there is no gain without some pain."
Dismissing the need for the amendment he said that now is the time to plough on as members can 'at long last, vote to enhance the city, reducing pollution and the associated health dangers."
But he also seemed to be the first member of the council to honestly acknowledge that the changes may actually hurt city centre businesses.
He said: "Clearly there is no gain without some pain. We are all very aware that there will be disruption during the works and we need to ensure we collaborate and consider with partners and stakeholders to determine how we can mitigate the risks to business for all those with who may be affected and this is an iterative is ongoing as we move through the next phases."
What are the Academy Street Plans?
Highland Council wants to stop Academy Street being used as a through road for motor traffic by blocking access at the Queensgate junction.
Traffic from the Millburn Road direction will go down Union Street and come out at Queensgate and then be diverted up Strothers Lane as will traffic from the opposite side. Vehicles coming from Church Street will travel up Post Office Avenue and be directed back along Academy Street in the direction of the A82 or via Strothers lane.
Highland Council says this will cut traffic by 75 per cent as this is the amount of vehicles using it as a through road so the city centre will become a nicer place for walking or wheeling.
So what is all the fuss about?
Undoubtedly, the single biggest issue is the plan itself and simply stated businesses in the city centre believe it will ruin trade. They argue that the recent experiences of places like Glasgow and Aberdeen would suggest that in the short-term businesses will close.
The second is the process has not been perfect. The council consulted on one proposal and then supported a second back in 2022 – that bait and switch, intentional or unintentional turbo-charged frustrations in the business community.
In the first place businesses feel they have been misled by the council from the beginning but they also feel that they have been ignored – both claims have a basis in reality.
The plans did change and when they were consulted on them this year and delivered negative feedback it changed next to nothing – the council still wants to slash traffic by 75 per cent.
What about those who are for the changes?
Supporters of the scheme include disability access advocates, active travel and sustainable transport campaigners and at least one business are keen for it to go ahead. Their arguments also have merit in that there is near unanimity that Academy Street currently is not a pleasant place to walk or wheel.
Significantly disabled access advocates have argued strongly that the access points to the street particularly where to cross the road would be greatly improved in terms of ease and safety.
Highland active travel proponents say that it would improve the city centre as a place to walk and cycle but importantly as a place that would draw people in and that they say would improve business.
They argue that would get people out of cars and into shops and bars in the city centre while also providing broader positives points in societal good related to a healthier lifestyle and a healthier city environment.
While the Highland Greens back the plans on environmental grounds and that rather than closing the city centre off it would in fact open it up while also reducing significantly pollution.
So what happens next?
The council has arrived at a decision and officers will proceed to a traffic order, consultation on that order and a funding bid and if that is successful then further work including planning permission would be required.
But Eastgate bosses have vowed to pursue a judicial review of the action of Highland Council so this is not the end of the story.
Do you visit Inverness regularly for business or work? What do you think about Academy Street and the plans that have been agreed? Email newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk
