Bars, pubs and clubs in Inverness have come out against plans to divert almost all traffic away from Academy Street – warning the move risks pushing firms to the wall.
Highland Council’s City of Inverness area committee will meet today to vote on progressing plans to make the focus walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users on the route.
Concerns have already been raised that the plans need more detail and more consultation is needed with all who use the road.
Supporters of the plans say the changes will make one of Scotland’s most polluted streets much more appealing to visit.
However, Inverness city centre pubs have warned diverting traffic away from Academy Street risk the future of businesses and making other roads congested.
‘Traffic could be pushed from Academy Street to residential areas’
The council’s proposals for Academy Street include banning through-traffic while adding bus lanes between the junctions of Union Street and Queensgate.
Traffic from Millburn Road will have to turn left into Union Street while motorists coming into the city centre from Chapel Street and Church Street would not be able to access Queensgate.
Wider pavements and more pedestrian crossings are planned to make the area more appealing for local city centre visitors and tourists.
However, pub bosses have warned the changes risk pushing congestion out to other areas.
Jo de Silva, who runs MacGregor’s on Academy Street with her husband Bruce MacGregor, told BBC Radio Scotland: “The proposed alternative routes will take the majority of city centre traffic to highly residential areas, the biggest primary school and is not fit for that number of cars.
“The other proposed route has a level crossing which is closed 33 times a day for roughly three minutes each time.
“The idea is that they have a very pleasant Inverness, but all that’s going to happen is that traffic will be pushed further out of the city centre and create huge issues for those areas not on Academy Street.”
Colin Wilkinson, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association’s managing director, said the group was “deeply concerned” about the changes – instead calling for more investment in public transport alongside the changes.
He said: “Quite simply, the harder you make it for customers to get to businesses, the fewer customers will come.
“The implementation of any measures which make visiting city or town centres more difficult or circuitous, or reduces the willingness of drivers to drop off family or friends in town, due to fear of getting a bus gate fine, would not be of benefit to the people of, visitors to or businesses within Inverness at this time.
“Local members are not aware of any credible proposals to make the required degree of public transport investment in the city centre, or indeed the Inverness and Highlands area needed, and certainly not before the Academy Street proposals would be completed.”
Hopes changes will make Inverness more attractive
Concerns from pub bosses in Inverness about the Academy Street changes come after the Eastgate shopping centre called for a compromise last week.
Inverness Chamber of Commerce says it will push for compensation for affected businesses.
However, city leader Ian Brown has stressed the changes will make Academy Street more attractive for all.
He said: “At the moment if you’re a visitor and come by bus or train and hit Academy Street it’s a very busy road and it’s not pleasant.
“We want to make Academy Street a place for everyone. As the gateway to the Highland capital, Academy Street plays a significant role in welcoming visitors from near and far.”
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