Say your fond farewells now

Well, being one of the 779 respondents to the consultation I received the letter below by email just a few minutes ago:

Dear Sir / Madam,

INVERNESS CITY TRUNK LINK ROAD – WEST LINK

OPTIONS APPRAISAL - PUBLIC CONSULTATION No. 2

In February, I wrote to you in connection with your comments on the Highland Council’s

proposals for the above project.

As a result of the feedback from the first consultation the number of options was increased

from 5 to 8. The 8 options have been subject to an Options Appraisal and at the Highland

Council meeting on 27th October 2011, a timetable was agreed for a Working Group of

Councillors to review the outcome of the Options Appraisal with a second public

consultation to follow.

The comments from the public consultation in December 2010 were considered during the

Options Appraisal and a summary of the main issues will be highlighted at the second

public consultation.

The dates and venues of the second public consultation are as follows:-

29 November – Daytime Exhibition in Kinmylies Church – 11am until 7pm

29 November – Evening Presentation in Inverness Sports Centre, Bught Park – 7.30pm

1 December – Daytime Exhibition in Culduthel Christian Centre – 11am until 7pm

1 December – Evening Presentation in Inverness Royal Academy – 7.30pm

I very much hope that you will attend one of the public displays and that you will find the

response to your question(s) in the details displayed.

Yours faithfully

James A Smith

We might be shown 8 options but given the circumstances (Money, views of agencies (especially regarding environmental considerations), the conclusion of the independent consultants that evaluated the proposals for the TLR as part of the STPR, the need to provide housing, the need to continue to provide road based solutions, there really only one option isn't there? There is land already set side in the adopted Inverness Local Plan.

One wonders why there has been more consultation? But more of that later.

Highland Council press release here

Inverness Courier item here