Inverness Councillor strives for clarity over replacement of sporting facilities

Here is a very interesting question - posed by Cllr Ross which appears on the agenda for next Thursday's Highland Council meeting** link here

(ii) Mr G Ross

To the Leader of the Council

“With the West Link Route in Inverness now going out to the design stage, can the Administration confirm that any planning gain monies received will be utilised to ensure the new sporting facilities and the relocation of the Golf Course and Highland Rugby Club are developed in tandem with the new road, river and canal crossings?”

The response to Mr G Ross (16kb pdf) is circulated.

Mr Ross will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader of the Council.

Let us hope that Cllr Ross is able to find out why his initial question has not, it seems, been answered, and the council appears not to be in any kind of a position to ensure that new facilities will be being put in place as the old ones are being lost.

(**A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 25 October 2012 at10.35am.)

Working closely together on Inverness development

Council Press Release 19/10/12

Extract

...Inverness is set to see the first major regeneration in the City Centre for a number of years following the granting of planning permission by The Highland Council for an 8-storey-high building for student accommodation.   This £6m development is the first phase of a £30m re-generation project within the Rose Street and Farraline Park areas of Inverness City Centre.

The first building will accommodate 105 students in modern purpose built residential apartments, each with their own en suite facilities and private study areas. The developers, Inverness Properties Ltd, are delighted that the application was approved by the officials under Delegated Powers.   Gary Johnston, for G H Johnston Building Consultants Ltd, said that working closely with The Highland Council Planning Authority and The Inverness Civic Trust meant that the building could be sensitively sited and designed, taking into consideration the wider scope of the regeneration area.

Councillor Prag welcomed the closer relationship between developers, designers, the council and the Civic Trust on this project. He said:  “We are keen to work with applicants and others to refine projects at an early stage in the process and this is a good example of where it has worked. This is an important site on the edge of the conservation area and it was vital that it looks good, as well as providing an important boost to the vitality of this part of town.”

John West commented that the Trust welcomed the opportunity to discuss new developments and to raise with developers any concerns which the Trust may have.  As the result of discussions, the building was redesigned and a solution was reached that was acceptable to the Trust, The Highland Council Conservation Officer and Inverness Properties Ltd.

FULL ITEM here

e-Planning back up

From 15/10/12

The Highland Council can announce that access to the e-Planning service is now available for use. Problems occurred last week which caused the system to be closed down so repairs could be carried out.

Link here

East Inverness Flood Meeting on Oct 25th

The Highland Council has set a date for a third public meeting to discuss flood alleviation measures  at  Balloch, Culloden and Smithton. The meeting will be held on Thursday 25 October 2012 at Culloden Academy, Inverness, starting at 6:30pm.

Details and background here