POLL: What do you think of proposed designs for Academy Street in Highland capital? Highland Council consultation on £800,000 project that would increase access for pedestrians and cyclists and reduce it for vehicles

Highland Council has launched its proposed designs for Academy Street that aim to make it more people friendly.

The street is one of the most congested and polluted in Scotland and there have been calls for serious makeover for years.

So far, no attempt has made it very far but this one could go the distance backed by £800,000 of Scottish Government cash.

Visuals of the scheme have been published on a dedicated website set up to showcase the vision for Academy Street and gather feedback.

But what do you think?

The plans can be viewed at the consultation website and over the next few weeks, businesses and other stakeholders, and the general public will be invited to share their events

The designs will also be on show in the city centre – at the bus station, railway station, Eastgate Shopping Centre and Victorian Market.

The council has secured funding through Places for Everyone scheme funded by the government through Transport Scotland and is administered by Sustrans.

But the funding is contingent on identifying a viable alternative cycle path to Academy Street which enables cyclists to safely cross the city.

Related story – Views are being sought by Highland Council on proposed designs for Academy Street in Inverness

The central focus of the design for Academy Street is to widen the pavement and increase space for pedestrians, something that was trialled during the Covid-19 pandemic when temporary measures were introduced to Academy Street as part of the Spaces for People project. Funded by the Scottish Government, this was a Highland-wide initiative that not only provided physical distancing but also improved the opportunity to support people to travel by healthier, low carbon transport such as walking, wheeling and cycling.

• More information about the design for Academy Street can be found at the consultation website.

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