The balance of public opinion over the proposed £300,000 “tilting pier” arts project for the River Ness has swung a little in favour of those who support the idea.
A rival online campaign has been launched within hours of a petition aimed at scrapping the concept, which is also known as “The Gathering Place”, as a waste of public money.
Ashleigh Murray’s new petition states that the tilting platform would be “a great new piece of art” that would prove a crowd puller.
It goes on: “Our town comes with little history, so let’s make art that can be looked back on in years to come. This piece of art comes at a price but it also have a lot of benefits.
“The rate of tourism will go up and I believe this platform will be like a monument and that it could be another thing that represents and makes Inverness more known.”
A handful of people were quick to add their thoughts.
One said: “The pot holes can wait. This thing will help the tourism trade and will be great fun.”
Another wrote: “The pier would be an asset to our great city.”
And another supporter said: “It will be a great boost to the area. Love a bit more art in the Highlands.”
Within 24 hours of going online, the objectors’ petition had attracted more than 300 signatures.
That campaign is led by Inverness accountant and activist Donald MacKenzie who previously challenged the council’s proposed £500,000 spending on a “golden shroud” for the city’s museum and art gallery.
That project was put on hold last month (APRIL) for further consideration following a public outcry about the expense in an era in which the council has had to make budget savings of tens of millions of pounds due to cuts in government grants.
The objectors’ petition will be presented to councillors in due course. The other will be delivered to “the public,” according to the website.
A small working group of councillors is pressing on with plans to build the tilting pier on the riverside near Eden Court Theatre having dropped a previous proposal – due to huge public opposition – to construct it at Friars Shott, downstream in Huntly Street.
Several city councillors have urged the group to forget it altogether.
The platform is part of a wider £760,000 artworks programme commissioned by the working group which has been guaranteed £305,600 from Creative Scotland and £66,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Much of the anger has focussed on the artworks costing the Inverness common good fund £280,750 and the council £106,000.
