News"Crowning" Glory Open Challenge
26 September 2008
 The search is on for a fantastic idea to beautify Crown Road Wall. Are you up to the challenge. To find out all about it visit the Crown Road Wall page by clicking The Wall, left, or the orange Public Art button on the right.
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Streetscape works progress in Union Street and Drummond Street
01 September 2008
 
Inverness city centre Streetscape works will advance in Union Street and Drummond Street, over the coming weeks as the contractor begins to lay granite sets in a section of the carriageway.
Drivers are advised that there will be no through access as the road will be closed to all traffic for approximately seven weeks commencing Wednesday 3rd September. The restricted area begins just before the Victorian Market entrance to just beyond the Drummond Street junction and includes Drummond Street between Union Street and Baron Taylor’s Street.
Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and special arrangements are being put in place for vehicles making deliveries. The temporary restriction is expected to last up to Wednesday 22 October 2008 or until the works are complete, whichever is first.
During this period disabled parking spaces are available on Church Street and Queensgate. Three spaces at the south end of Church Street can be accessed via Baron Taylor’s Street, some spaces on north Church Street near Leakey’s bookshop and three on Queensgate beside ‘The Room’ can be accessed from north Church Street. Care should be taken to observe temporary start and end signs.
Scott Alexander, Area Leader for Rok Civil Engineering said: “We are working in partnership with The Highland Council and local stakeholders to progress the project as quickly as possible. This closure period will allow us to increase our numbers on the ground and move on quickly to minimise disruption at the key Christmas trading period. We appreciate the cooperation we are receiving from local businesses and residents and will do everything we can to assist them over the coming weeks.”
The overall target date for completion is spring 2009 and information about the timing of other areas due to be re-constructed will be issued in due course.
Provost Jimmy Gray, Chairman of the Inverness City Committee said: “I am pleased to hear about the progress in Union Street and Drummond Street. There will inevitably be some inconvenience in the short term but the long term benefits will be a much enhanced city centre which is more pedestrian friendly. Once the project is finished there will be a level surface from the High Street, through Lombard and Drummond Streets and across Union Street into the Victorian Market. This will be a huge improvement for people on foot, in wheelchairs or with buggies.”
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BEAUTY/LINES RAMADA INVERNESS
25 April 2008
 Artists and designers are being invited to express interest in being involved in an exciting opportunity to transform the facade of the Ramada Hotel, Inverness. This project is part of a dynamic programme of commissions launched in 2008 under the bold new Inverness Old Town Art initiative.
With a project budget of £70,000, this commission provides the opportunity for creative collaboration and the chance to be part of the visual transformation of Inverness city centre. The closing date for expressions of interest is Friday 30th May 2008.
Download a one page summary of the advert or view the details on the Ramada page by following the link through the orange Public Art button on the right.
Click here to download the PDF. 2.4MB
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Invitation to design Victorian Market entrances.
15 April 2008
Inverness Old Town Art invites artists, makers, architects and engineers to send expressions of interest to design new entrance features for three of the four entrances to the Victorian Market in Inverness city centre.
The Victorian Market is the first of five new projects in a bold arts-led initiative to transform key sites in the old town area of Inverness. Situated in the heart of the old town, the market is home to a diverse range of independent and historical shops. The market is indoors and only visible from the main streets by the existing entrance canopies, these are of poor design quality and function. It is proposed that a team of artists/designers create three new bespoke entrance features to update the physical fabric of the market.
With a budget of £60,000 this project offers considerable scope for a collaborative approach by artists to contribute to the visual transformation of one of the most historic and characterful parts of the city. The new entrances are an integral part of the overall Streetscape project, which has attracted public investment of over £6m to regenerate the city centre.
Applications are being sought from all types of highly innovative contemporary artists, interested in either working independently or as part of a wider collaborative partnership. Artists/designers wishing to develop a new dimension to their work in the public realm are encouraged and individuals will be supported throughout the commissioning process.
Interested artists should register by posting an expression of interest to arrive by 12 noon on Friday 2nd May 2008. Details of requirements can be found at www.citypartnership.org.uk. All applications should be marked Inverness Old Town Art - Victorian Markets.
Submissions should be posted to:
Louise Mor
Inverness Old Town Art
Town House, High Street, Inverness, IV1 1JJ
Tel: 07854 063887 Email: louise@louisemor.com
More information is available in the following document, supplied in Word or PDF format.
Artist Brief.doc
Artist Brief.pdf |
Countdown to Three Virtues Launch Party
29 February 2008
THURSDAY 6 MARCH AT 6.15PM
The last granite cube has been laid, the lights are about to go in, and the fences will shortly be coming down around Inverness’s newest public artwork – Matt Baker’s Three Virtues. Yes, the clock is counting down towards 6.15pm, Thursday 6th of March when the public are invited to come along and celebrate the opening of this new public space at the top of Church Street (that’s the High Street end).
Don’t be late if you don’t want to miss a moment of the virtuous fun. For more information click the orange Public Art button on the right.
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Inverness Old Town Arts Programme secures Scottish Arts Council support (21/02/08)
21 February 2008
The Inverness City Centre Streetscape public art project has received welcome new investment with the award of £100,000 from the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Capital Programme. The grant, which is the maximum award available, will assist five additional arts projects and underlines the Scottish Arts Council’s belief that the Inverness Old Town Art programme will be of national significance.
Iain Munro, Co-Director and Head of Lottery, Scottish Arts Council said: “The Inverness Old Town project will build on the success of the earlier project and supports the Scottish Arts Council's priority of increasing opportunities to participate in the arts. This is a unique opportunity for artists and the local community to work together creatively to redevelop an important part of the city, transform the physical environment and generate civic pride.”
Five new projects will be launched to develop close links with local businesses and residents to transform key sites in the old town area of the city including: the Victorian Market; the Ramada Jarvis at the end of Union Street; and Baron Taylor’s Street.
The first project will focus on the Victorian Market. Three new entrance features are planned for Union Street, Church Street and Queensgate, to draw attention to the Market as a landmark in the Old Town boasting its unique collection of independent traders and specialist shops. Professional artists, designers & architects will be invited to register their interest in this design opportunity and will be selected, as part of an open process, which will involve representatives of the Market traders.
A dedicated project manager has been appointed to take the lead. Louise Mor has 10 years experience as a curator, fundraiser and project coordinator, and she is looking forward to the challenge. She said: “I am truly delighted to be given the opportunity to contribute to the public art programme in Inverness. I aim to work with the traders and encourage them to take an active part in the creative process. I’m also looking forward to joining such a talented multi-disciplinary team as Matt Baker, Susan Christie and the artists involved in other projects.”
The new Victorian Market entrances are an integral part of the overall Streetscape project which is bringing public investment of over £6m to regenerate the city centre.
Provost Bob Wynd, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee, said: “The Scottish Arts Council award is very good news. Our city centre is having to adapt to change as all modern, thriving urban centres have to. The additional £100,000 will allow us to do a lot more in terms of the important design features that will set Inverness city centre apart and help us to create a desirable destination that reflects the culture and heritage of the city in the Highlands.”
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Background notes:
Louise Mor has over 10 years experience of working as a curator, fundraiser and project manager. Her portfolio encompasses a broad spectrum of work that spans creative industries development, design and more recently public art. She has a special interest in collaborations that engage artists as creative thinkers at the start of a project and is ideally suited for the Victorian Markets project.
From 2000 to 2002 Louise was Design Executive at Glasgow Design, an award winning public design consultancy set up as part of Glasgow UK city of Architecture and Design 1999. She managed a wide range of projects with artists, designers, architects and organisations including, Glasgow School of Art, Scottish Enterprise, the Design Council, the RIAS and Arts & Business.
Most recently Louise held the post of Senior Manager, Public Realm Projects at Beam in Wakefield. At Beam Louise was involved in developing a new programme of multi-disciplinary arts development programme that attracted funding from several national agencies. During 2007 she led on a National Public Conference involving artist, architects and other professionals working in the creative sector.
She has family connections in Fort William and Inverness and hopes to relocate to the Highlands.
Project development - The new Scottish Arts Council funded artistic programme grew out of a dialogue which began with the “Imagining the Centre” event on 9 September 2007 which Matt Baker and members of the Inverness City Partnership team developed. This successful one-off arts event took place over 12 hours on Church Street and local people were invited to join artists & performers in a conversation about what Inverness city centre was, and could be in the future. Memorably, this event involved 14 artists who used giant projections, audio art and performance to bring to the surface the cultural importance of the old town for the city.
The £100,000 Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Capital Programme grant will augment the £250,000 earmarked for public art commissions as part of the overall £6m investment in the Inverness City Centre Streetscape & Traffic Management Programme. Other funding sources are: Scottish Government Cities Growth Fund; The Highland Council; Inverness Common Good Fund; HIE Inverness & East Highland and HITRANS.
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River Ness Crossing Set to be Illuminated
15 February 2008
 
Work begins on Sunday (17 February) on a £167k project to light the city of Inverness’s main river crossing.
Ness Bridge is to be fitted with colour changing LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lighting to reflect on the water and in doing so, will become a striking new addition to city’s nightime scene.
Once work is completed, after dusk, the Ness Bridge will come to life in a dynamic display with endless potential to change the lighting sequence across the full colour palette, and to link the changes to wind speed, or water flow. All controlled by a computer system, lighting can also be programmed to celebrate events or special days in the cultural calendar such as blue and white on St. Andrew’s Day and red and yellow for Chinese New Year.
The project, part of the City Lighting Strategy, illuminatinginverness, is being fully funded through the Inverness City Vision Cities Growth Fund monies for 2006-2008 and compliments the lighting work already in place around Inverness Castle and the environmental improvements of the Streetscape programme.
Provost Bob Wynd, Chairman of The Highland Council's Inverness City Committee, said: “One of the most remarkable assets we have in Inverness is the River Ness. Ness Bridge which is rather a standard looking bridge during the day will be transformed into a stunning feature at night. The illuminatinginverness initiative is all about making the city look more attractive and feel safer at night. The work on Ness Bridge will add an additional wow factor to the evening atmosphere, greatly enhancing the visitor experience and promoting civic pride.”
In future years, it is proposed that Friar’s Bridge could get the same treatment and the Greig Street and Infirmary footbridges will be illuminated in blue and white.
To ensure public safety during the installation of the lighting equipment, a single footway over the bridge will be closed from Sunday (17 February) to Sunday 2 March. Either footway may be closed at any one time, but pedestrian access across the Bridge will be maintained at all times. Vehicular access will remain unaffected during all the work.
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Streetscape Progresses in South Church Street and Fraser Street
08 February 2008
 
Implementation of the Inverness city centre streetscape works will progress in south Church Street, from Monday (11 February). In the interests of public safety, the section of Church Street from the end of Baron Taylor’s Street to the junction with Union Street will be closed to vehicular traffic. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and access for emergency vehicles, refuse and delivery vehicles will be controlled by the contractor.
The closure is expected to last up to 8 weeks during which time the street carriageway will be laid with granite sets up to pavement level. Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, said: “Completion of this stretch of Church Street should give the old town a real boost as people will be able to see the difference the project has made in creating an attractive and inviting pedestrian access from Bridge Street.”
The construction contractor acknowledges the affect that their operations are having on the nearby businesses, particularly in relation to access for loading and deliveries. Rok’s contract manager David MacDonald said: “It’s a challenge working in these narrow streets while trying to maintain access for pedestrians and traffic. Our priority is to keep everyone safe and to get the job done as quickly as possible so in this area a road closure is unavoidable. We appreciate the cooperation we are receiving from local businesses and residents and will do everything we can to assist them in the coming weeks and months.”
A delay in streetscape works proceeding on Union Street, Queensgate and mid-Church Street due to defects found on properties has allowed works on Fraser Street to start ahead of schedule.
From Monday, 18 February for a period of six-eight weeks, buses and taxis will be excluded from Fraser Street to allow streetscape and water mains works to proceed safely there. Pedestrian access will be maintained.
Marie Mackintosh said: “A number of owners on Union Street, Queensgate and mid-Church Street have already been in contact with The Highland Council to confirm that they are having remedial works done. Colleagues are following up with those we have not heard from in the hope that we can avoid the need to issue formal notices.”
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Ness Walk Traffic Management Talks Continue
24 January 2008
Representatives of The Highland Council met with business and residential stakeholders from the Ness Walk area today (Thursday) to review the latest options for traffic management and streetscape design for Ness Walk. The meeting followed talks in May last year when local businesses asked the Council to reconsider the planned introduction of one way traffic northwards ie from the Cathedral towards the Ness Bridge.
The attendees were shown computer simulated models for a range of traffic flow options. Working from a baseline of peak time traffic counts taken in August 2007, the model clearly illustrated the traffic impact of each option to the immediate vicinity and to the wider city traffic network. The resulting data revealed that reversing the flow to one way southwards, from Ness Bridge towards the Cathedral, would have a detrimental affect on Ardross Street, Kenneth Street and Bishops Road. In order to find a workable solution, the Council’s transportation officers promoted the idea of making Kenneth Street one-way from Ardross Street to the junction with Tomnahuirich Street. The introduction of 2 lanes exiting from this section of Kenneth Street would make a significant reduction in peak time queuing and delays. The most efficient option would also remove the traffic signals at the Ness Bridge/Young Street junction to create a 50% improvement in traffic flows on the A82 approach.
Provost Bob Wynd, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee said: “We listened to the concerns expressed by the Ness Walk stakeholders last year and officers have undertaken a thorough and considered appraisal of all the options to try and find the best solution. This traffic simulation model provides an excellent demonstration of how each scenario would operate in practice and I think it helped highlight that a more radical approach is necessary to achieve the positive results we all want.
“Other issues in relation to parking and loading, coach drop-off and pedestrian crossings have been discussed as well as a cycle path and environmental improvements on Ness Walk. Today was a continuation of the consultation process and as we move forward to develop the final design there will be more opportunities for the wider public to make their views known.”
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Season's Greetings from everyone at Inverness City Partnership
21 December 2007
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City Centre Building Inspection Update
21 December 2007
The Highland Council has received the completed Building Inspection report it commissioned to identify potential defects in older 3 and 4 storey building within the city centre, which may impact on the Streetscape contract. Letters are being prepared to alert the relevant building owners to the issues identified and these will be issued early in the New Year.
Streetscape construction works have ceased for the festive break and will resume on Monday 7th January 2008. Information about the revised work programme will be issued shortly afterwards.
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Inverness Finds New Virtue
23 November 2007
Invernessians have helped select three new virtues to take the city forward into the 21st century. The new virtues are perseverance, open-heartedness and insight. The new virtues will be incorporated into a sculpture and will form a new entrance feature to the Old Town. Located in the new pedestrianised area at the south end of Church Street, the new virtues will be inscribed individually in English, Gaelic and Old Norse on three sloping platforms, each topped with a layer of Caithness stone. Out of each platform will grow a single birch tree: one native Scottish variety, one North American and one Asian. These reflect that Inverness is now home to many diverse communities. Work begins on installing the new virtues early next month.
They will complement the city’s three statues of Faith, Hope and Charity, which are due to return to the Highland capital from their exile in Orkney early in the New Year.
The ‘search for virtue’ was led by prominent Scottish artist Matt Baker who was commissioned in early 2006 as the lead artist for the city centre Streetscape Programme.
Matt explained: “One of the first stories I heard in Inverness was about the way that the statues depicting the three virtues ‘Faith, Hope and Charity’ had been lost when the building on which they sat was demolished in the 1950s. Faith Hope and Charity had been chosen for the town in the Victorian age and it made me wonder what people would chose to ‘look over’ the city today’.”
This ‘Search for Virtue’ began with discussion within Church groups, the debate then widened out to include other community groups before spreading around the whole city in the form of a Text and Website vote. The process concluded with ‘The Philosopher’s Salon’ held in Leakey’s Bookshop, with 25 people participating.
Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer, said: “As the city in the Highlands I think it is important that the city reflects some of the extraordinary landscape that surrounds it. The three virtues grew from the idea of transporting a small piece of the landscape around Inverness into the city centre. The use of natural local materials and the beauty of the indigenous trees as they grow and change through the seasons suggest a glimpse of the countryside. It is hoped that the three virtues will work as an entrance feature for the ‘Old Town’, a symbol of the rebirth of the area as a cultural district of Inverness, and that it will be useful to the public in many ways - as a calming place to sit or meet friends, as a traffic free space for performance or music.’
The local community will get their first glimpse of the ‘3 Virtues’ as the complex installation process begins early next month. The bases inscribed with the new words will be installed first. Within a few days the “virtuous trees’ will be planted (under the expert guidance of City Tree Officer Ben Clinch and Horticultural Officer Peter Kelly), then the natural stone covers will be fixed into place before Christmas. In early January the paving will be completed around the Artwork and the whole project will be complete ready for a public celebration event some time in February. Neighbouring businesses and community groups will be involved in planning this event.
Matt added: “Through working here I have developed a great love and respect for the ‘Highland attitude’and the way you do things here – a quite bewildering array of different people have been involved with making ‘3 Virtues’ possible; each adding their own individual stamp to the process. I hope this bodes well for the art work to play a useful part in the success story of Inverness.”
The New 3 Virtues:
 Perseverance: an early favourite that never faltered throughout the decision process. I like the way that this is a very traditional Scottish virtue reflecting the deep rooted Calvinism in our society, popular mythology eg Robert the Bruce and the spider and respect which we hold for sportspeople etc ‘who never say die’.
 Open-heartedness: one of the strong themes to emerge from the ‘search for virtue’ was the idea of ‘highland hospitality’ and of ‘tolerance’ to those who come to into the highlands. It was felt however that hospitality is now the name of an industry and that tolerance carries with it slightly negative undertones ie that we tolerate under sufferance.
 Insight: the future is very present in Invernessian thinking just now, there were many suggestions for words such as Vision, Creativity, Enterprise. In the end the decision went in favour of Insight as having a sense of looking to the future whilst also retaining a sense of the wisdom and sensitivity in the highland character.
At the Inverness City Committee meeting on 12 November 2007 Councillors approved a recommendation to secure the return of the original Faith, Hope and Charity statues to Inverness. Discussions are continuing about where to locate these.
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Have the Martian's invaded Inverness Castle?
22 November 2007
Local fears that some alien force has taken over Inverness Castle, or that it has been diagnosed as having sick building syndrome, are unfounded. It has simply become Captain Hook's Headquarters for the duration of the Inverness Winter Festival. Peter Pan and friends will be keeping close watch over the next 7 weeks in between their busy schedule of events. |
Drummond Street & Union Street Remain Closed
21 November 2007
Dangerous Building Notices will be sent out today (Wednesday) to individuals with ownership interests in the listed building at the corner of Drummond Street and Union Street, Inverness, which is posing a risk to public safety and has resulted in the closure to all but emergency vehicles on Union Street.
The notices will ask the owners to make arrangements to make safe two chimney heads on the building within seven days. It is understood this will require contractors deploying two cranes to remove the stacks and at a later time reinstate them.
The Council will step in should the owners – for any reason - fail to comply with the notices.
Shops on Union Street remain open and pedestrian access has been maintained.
However, vehicular access from Academy Street to Union Street is restricted to emergency access.
And there is no access between Drummond Street and Union Street and two charity shops on Drummond Street will remain closed until the chimney heads are removed.
A spokesman for the Council said it was not possible to estimate the duration of the disruption to movement in this part of the city centre.
He said: “The owners will be sent a letter explaining the implications of the notice, which will specify seven days for the building to be made safe. This can be extended if necessary and if no action is taken then the Council can step in; carry out the works; and seek to recover costs. We have no reason to believe this will be necessary however.”
The health and safety risks were identified on Tuesday following a survey of building facades in part of Inverness city centre, associated with the Inverness Streetscape programme currently under way. It resulted in immediate action to restrict all but emergency vehicular access to Union Street and Drummond Street.
A number of defects of varying risks have been identified in other properties on Union Street and owners of the properties will be contacted as soon as possible to advise them of the need for essential repairs
The survey was carried out on behalf of the Council in connection with the second phase of the Streetscape Programme. Union Street and the mid-section of Church Street closed on Monday 12 November for up to 33 weeks to allow the scheme and water mains renewal works to progress as quickly and safely as possible.
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Structural Survey Identifies Safety Risk to Pedestrians in City Centre
20 November 2007
A structural survey of building facades in part of Inverness city centre, associated with the Inverness Streetscape programme currently under way, has identified immediate health and safety risks, which requires The Highland Council to restrict all but emergency vehicular access to Union Street and Drummond Street. There is no pedestrian or vehicular access on Union Street between Academy Street and Drummond Street.
The area will remain cordoned off until emergency repairs to two chimney stacks, which are deemed to be a risk to public safety, are completed. A number of defects of varying risks have been identified so far and owners of the properties will be contacted as soon as possible to advise them of the need for essential repairs.
A Council spokesman said: “Public safety is paramount and we have no option but to take immediate action to make this area safe. However, every effort will be made to work with all parties to bring a quick and satisfactory resolution to the situation.”
The structural survey was carried out on behalf of the Council in connection with the second phase of the Streetscape Programme. Union Street and the mid-section of Church Street closed on Monday 12 November for up to 33 weeks to allow the scheme and water mains renewal works to progress as quickly and safely as possible. |
Highland Gallery & Museum Search for a Site
14 November 2007
Highland Gallery and Museum
Highland Gallery and Museum - A vision for the future
Gailearaidh is Taigh-tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd -
Ìomhaigh dhan àm ri teachd
The Search for a Site
LAUNCH OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Wednesday 14 November 2007, 7.00 for 7.15pm
Town Hall, Town House, Inverness
There has been an ambition to create a major new gallery in the Highlands for over a decade. More recently, a vision for a combined gallery & museum has been developed by the Highland Gallery & Museum Steering Group, and the search is on to find the right site. The Steering Group and The Highland Council invite the public to participate by giving their views on three city centre sites.
You are invited to come along to hear a presentation on the evening of 14th November in the Town Hall, pick up a leaflet and survey form. Alternatively you may visit the displays at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery or Eastgate Centre from 15 November – 11 January 2008.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS IMPORTANT
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Streetscape Phase 2 Street Closures
05 November 2007
 Union Street and the mid-section of Church Street in Inverness will be closed for up to 33 weeks from Monday 12 November as Phase 2 of the Inverness Streetscape Scheme gets under way.
Click here to view a large map of the Phase 2 road closures.
The closures are needed to allow the scheme and water mains renewal works to progress as quickly and safely as possible.
Union Street and the mid section of Church Street between Union Street and Queensgate will be closed to cars, buses and taxis. The only permitted access will be for emergency vehicles, disabled vehicles, pedal cycles, motor cycles and vehicles making deliveries or requiring access to premises.
Cars and taxis will not be permitted to enter the north part of Church Street from its junction with Friars Lane and Queensgate. This restriction is necessary because the bus services currently operating from Union Street and Church Street will relocate temporarily to the north east side of this section. The street is narrow and the parking and loading bays on the opposite side will be required for deliveries.
Queensgate will have less restriction but will be closed to all vehicles except buses emergency vehicles, disabled vehicles, pedal cycles, motor cycles and vehicles making deliveries or requiring access to premises. On duty, marked taxis will be able to use Queensgate via Fraser Street.
Provost Bob Wynd, Chairman of Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee said: “A lot of planning and consideration has gone into these temporary traffic management arrangements and the decision to implement the restrictions was not taken lightly. I am very pleased with the co-operation that Council Officers and ROK Civil Engineering have had from the business stakeholder groups. We will continue to work closely to review any problems and keep the city centre operational.”
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer added: “Rok will have additional men on watch to give assistance to pedestrians or with deliveries and the traffic wardens will also be on hand. Later this week there will be more information on the City Partnership website and I will be issuing information direct to the businesses to reassure them. The Inverness City Celebrations winter festival gets underway in the middle of the month and I hope that the reduced traffic will encourage shoppers to explore the old town on foot and enjoy great Christmas shopping, eating out and entertainment.” |
Buses On the Move
25 October 2007
 Rapsons have announced service changes and enhancements to a number of bus routes. The changes highlighted in the table will be introduced from Monday 29th October 2007 and will be permanent.
Click here to download pdf.
The relocation of services to new stops will assist in relieving congestion within the city centre core streets and the timing, ahead of the temporary closure of Union Street and mid-Church Street, will help to ensure Phase 2 of the Streetscape Programme can be completed as quickly as possible.
Information will be posted at all the old stops about where the new stops are, and the bus drivers will be happy to provide further advice. For full timetable information call 01463 710555 or visit www.rapsons.co.uk.
Stagecoach are also making a number of permanent route changes from Monday 29th October. Information is posted on the old and new stops and is available on the buses.
The bus stops in Union Street will be relocated to the north end of Church Street from 12th November 07 while Union Street is closed during the Streetscape works. Throughout this period Stagecoach will have placed in the area two bus inspectors who will be on hand from 0700 to 1830 to assist all passengers with any queries about bus stops and timetabling.
Stagecoach wishes to thank all its customers for their ongoing support during the Streetscape works and can assure them that all is being done to ensure a complete and reliable service is provided during these works. For all timetable and ticketing information please go to our website at stagecoachbus.com.
Rapsons, Stagecoach and Inverness City Partnership thank passengers for Getting On Board with the changes.
Supported by
 
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Streetscape Phase 2 Plans Confirmed
04 October 2007
Rok Civil Engineering held a meeting with business representatives, the bus companies, Council officers and the senior Traffic Warden on Thursday (4th October). At the meeting is was agreed that the temporary road closure of Union Street and mid-Church Street would be the safest and most effective way of carrying out the Streetscape construction works in this busy city centre location. Detailed plans will now be put in place to bring this into effect from Monday 12th November. Traffic restrictions are expected to remain in place for up to 8 months.
Rok’s Operations Manager for the Streetscape contract, David MacDonald said “I am delighted with the cooperation and practical input we have had from the business groups. We were very aware that this is probably the worst time of year for going into this important retail environment but it is unavoidable if we are to meet our contractual obligations. We looked at all the options but this is the only workable solution to achieve our priorities of: safe and easy pedestrian access; deliveries with minimum inconvenience and a safe and efficient working environment for Rok’s workforce.
For the plans to work bus services which normally operate from Union Street and mid-Church Street will be relocated to north east Church Street. Scott Pearson, Operations Manager of Stagecoach Inverness said “We appreciate that Rok have a difficult job to do and we want to help them achieve it as quickly as possible. Our duty is to ensure a convenient and reliable service for our passengers so we welcome being able to group the temporary stops together. We carry 80,000 passenger trips a week into the city centre and we will work with the Streetscape partners to keep bringing people directly into the heart of the city.” Ali MacDonald Operations Manager with Rapson Group added “It is important that we are able to inform customers about the changes affecting them. We advise them to check on-bus information and forthcoming travel guides for changes to our services whilst the next phase of the Streetscape scheme takes place.”
Garek Begg represented the City of Inverness Traders Association at the meeting and said “The Old Town is extensively populated with first class specialist retailers and businesses all with unique products and services. Our primary concern is to make sure customers can reach us, and that we can operate with minimal disruption, unimpeded deliveries being particularly important. Rok, and the Senior Traffic Warden have reassured us that this will be the case. Though only a small area with mainly unoccupied shops will be affected pre-Christmas, nonetheless this period is vital in most businesses. Consequently every effort will have to be made to remind consumers that we are all open for business as usual and there are buses & cheap parking to facilitate this”.
Provost Bob Wynd, Chairman of Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee was pleased to hear the outcome of the meeting and added “The Council is the client for the construction contract and is anxious to see it fulfilled on time and within budget. It is not possible to avoid all the sensitive trading periods and I am pleased to hear that all parties are working together to make the best of a challenging situation. The City Committee receives regular reports and will be monitoring progress. Inverness City Partnership will issue more detailed information for the businesses in the city centre shortly so that they know how this might affect them and what steps are being taken to mitigate any negative impact.”
Meanwhile various events and promotional ideas are being developed as part of the Inverness Winter Festival City Celebrations. Inverness City Centre Management, the BID Team and Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer are collaborating on these. Marie explained “The ice rink on Falcon Square is already confirmed but we also want to spread the festival spirit out into the old town area with events and attractions. The upside of the temporary road closure is that with less traffic it will be easier for people to move around so we want to encourage them to come in and enjoy the many great shops, restaurants and bars that the city centre has to offer. They will then begin to see the positive improvements we are making to create a city centre to be proud of.”
Ends
For more information contact
Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer at marie.mackintosh@highland.gov.uk or 01463 724380 / 07751 051371
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We Have Moved Office
26 September 2007
 After 3 years on Bank Street our lease is up and the City Partnership Office has moved to new premises. We have enjoyed the idyllic setting of the riverside and our contemporary first home shared with the team from Inverness City Centre Management but, as ICCM has grown, its time for us to move forward and on to new offices.
From Monday 1st October Inverness City Partnership (including greeninverness) and Inverness City Heritage Trust moved into the Town House. From 22nd October Inverness City Centre Management and the BID Team set up office at 111 Academy Street while Safeinverness has relocated to different premises.
Although we are moving to separate offices we will continue to work in close cooperation to deliver the City Vision, and to make our city an altogether better place to live, work and visit. The City Partnership staff will also be able to work more closely with the Highland Council’s new Ward management structure.
The new contact details to note are:
 Inverness City Partnership
Town House
High Street
INVERNESS
IV1 1JJ
Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer 01463 724380
Email marie.mackintosh@highland.gov.uk
Debbie Maguire, greeninverness Officer 01463 724381
Email debbie.maguire@highland.gov.uk
Ben Clinch, City Tree Officer 01463 724383
Email ben.clinch@highland.gov.uk
Public Art Coordinator (vacant post) 01463 724382
Email info@citypartnership.org.uk
Inverness City Centre Management
2nd Floor
111 Academy Street
INVERNESS
IV1 1LX
Telephone 01463 714550
Safeinverness
Telephone 07747 332693 (meantime - landline to be advised)
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Official Opening of Ness Islands Enhancements
20 September 2007
The completion of the Ness Islands Enhancement Programme was marked on Thursday (20th September) with an official gathering in the new central arena. Provost Bob Wynd and invited guests were joined by the four artists whose work forms a large part of the extensive environmental improvements that were phased over 15 months.
The “wavy wall” arena was created by landscape artist Keith Barratt from North Shields. Keith worked with pupils from Central Primary School to make clay images of the things they find special about the Islands. These have been cast in iron and are inserted in the work, which is made of Highland stone, and Douglas Fir sourced from Evanton. The arena provides informal seating in a sunny spot, and will be used by educational groups and the occasional community performance. The first of these is the The Lyre Tree – a magical, musical theatre for families produced by Eden Court - happening on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd September at 8.30pm.
Nigel Ross of Blairgowrie has sculpted nine large benches from Scottish oak. The flowing shapes are inspired by the setting and work with the natural shape of the timber. Huntly based Chris Bailey has hand-carved three gateway entrance features from larch. These include maps to guide visitors through or around the Islands, and provide interpretation of the local wildlife and habitat. Finally, Adam Booth an artist blacksmith from Dumfries has crafted striking balustrades for two of the footbridges near the Ladies Walk entrance. The rippling curves reflect a fish’s eye view of the water currents around the Islands.
In addition to the artist designed installations which collectively cost £193,000, improvements and remedial works were made to the street lighting, litter bins, footpaths, riverbanks and bridges. Tree felling and management works were also carried out bringing the total investment to £440,000. The whole project was made possible by the contributions from six funding partners: The Scottish Government – Cities Growth Fund, The Highland Council Inverness Common Good Fund, HIE Inverness and East Highland, Highland 2007, Inverness City Heritage Trust, and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer said “Inverness City Partnership is delighted to have had the support of so many partners. This has helped to raise the quality of what we have achieved here and showcase what a wonderful area it is. We have had very positive feedback from visitors and regular users of the Ness Islands who appreciate the craftsmanship that has gone into the works, and that we have kept it natural.
Provost Bob Wynd added “The Ness Islands is an important green space within the heart of the city. It provides a bit of calm among the hustle and bustle of city life and is readily accessible on the route to work or leisure activities. I hope this project sets the bar for other areas as we move forward with the Greeninverness Strategy. |
AlternativeNess Day
19 September 2007
The project is part of ‘In Town Without My Car’ which is promoted as part of European Mobility Week 17th – 21st September (see www.mobilityweek.eu). Car Free Day 'AlternativeNess' will be held in Inverness on Wednesday 19th September. The event gives people space to think about what our urban streets are really for.
For more information please see:
http://www.greeninverness.com/htm/news_events/news_events.php |
Council Acts to Relieve City Centre Congestion
13 June 2007
The Highland Council will introduce a number of positive measures this week to relieve the traffic congestion in the city centre before the peak summer season.
Low cost parking is now available at the Old Town Rose Street Car Park with a new rate of 20p for two hours on offer on car park levels 7, 8, 9 and 10. The new rate will apply throughout the duration of the streetscape works until the autumn of 2008 to encourage cars to stay out of the core streets when visiting the city centre.
To reinforce this message, and permit the water mains renewal and streetscape construction projects to proceed as quickly and safely as possible, the pay and display parking on Union Street and Queensgate will be suspended from Tuesday 13th June. These nine bays will be temporarily re-designated for disabled parking to give priority to those with mobility problems.
From this week the right turn from Bank Street into Fraser Street will be further restricted to buses only to ease the pressure on Queensgate. Options to provide more effective enforcement of the current restriction on this route are also being investigated. Fraser Street has been restricted to “buses, taxis, pedal cycles & access” only since 1989 but is flouted on a daily basis by cars using it as a short cut.
The traffic signals on Academy Street are once again fully integrated with the city centre network which will optimise flows and alleviate the recent delays at the Queensgate and Chapel Street junctions.
Provost Bob Wynd, chairman of the City of Inverness Committee of The Highland Council said “I am very pleased that officers have been able to bring these temporary measures in so quickly. It is vital that our city centre remains accessible during the improvement works and copes with the additional seasonal pressures. A meeting with the public transport operators and Inverness Taxi Association will be held next week to update them and review progress. A similar meeting is planned with business representatives and other stakeholders week commencing 25th June to which they will receive an invitation shortly.”
Provost Wynd added “A number of bus stops have been created in neighbouring streets and we are in discussion with the bus companies about relocating some bus routes. The Council and City Partnership need the continued cooperation of all concerned to help implement the £6m Streetscape Programme. With a bit of compromise from everyone we will achieve a much more attractive and efficient city centre.” |
Council Responds to Representations at Ness Walk, Inverness
24 May 2007
In response to representations from residents and businesses about the introduction of one-way traffic movement on Ness Walk, Inverness, The Highland Council has reverted traffic to two-way movement. The traffic returned to two-way traffic this afternoon after essential works by Scottish Water were completed.At the same time, the Council is to invite local residents and businesses to a meeting next week to discuss concerns about the changes and set out the Council’s longer term plans for the riverside route. The meeting will take place at the Columba Hotel, Ness Walk on Wednesday 30 May and all interested parties are being invited to attend.
Ness Walk became one way on Monday 21 May, with traffic permitted to travel only in the direction from Ardross Street towards Ness Bridge.
Iain Wallace, Area Roads and Community Works Manager for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said the traffic order to make Ness Walk one-way was agreed in January 2005 and the necessary statutory processes were followed before implementation on Monday.
However, he acknowledges that there has been an adverse response to the introduction of the new measure, including the absence of adequate advance warning of the implementation date.
He said: "We believe the best way forward is to meet residents and businesses to hear their concerns. We would welcome the opportunity to set out the rationale for the one-way system and our longer terms plans for Ness Walk." |
Paving the way for Change at Inverness Riverside
17 May 2007
A new measure to improve traffic movement in Inverness city centre and pave the way for an attractive riverside feature is being introduced from Monday 21 May. Ness Walk, which runs parallel with River Ness on the north side of the river, will become a one way road, with traffic permitted to travel only in the direction from Ardross Street towards Ness Bridge. Cyclists will, however, be exempt from this restriction and so will still be able to cycle along Ness Walk in both directions with the introduction of a marked cycle lane.
This change to the traffic flow is being made to reduce the amount of traffic using Ness Walk. It will be followed next year by the removal of on-street parking and the reconstruction of the road and footways, as part of the £6 million Inverness Streetscape Programme, to create an attractive riverside location with emphasis on pedestrians and cyclists with potential for street cafes and seating areas.
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, said: “Ness Walk is an attractive city waterfront location and our aim is not only to improve traffic movement at this often congested area but to create a more attractive and user friendly thoroughfare. “Easing congestion at the Ness Bridge junction will improve journey times and make the road safer for pedestrians while cycle lanes will allow safe two way travel for cyclists.” |
Watery words to run across Inverness Streetscape
10 May 2007
 The first phase of the Inverness Streetscape Programme was marked today (Thursday 10th May) by the official re-opening of Church Lane. The Reverend Douglas Clyne, acting Minister of the Old High/St. Stephen's Church, cut a ribbon assisted by representatives of the construction team, DUFI artists Fin Macrae and Al MacInnes, and members of the Streetscape Public Art Steering Group. These works form part of a wider programme to revitalise the city centre. Rok/Tulloch Civil Engineering Ltd has been awarded the £4.573m construction contract and Inverness based GU Contracts are sub-contracted for the specialist stone laying. The project costs are jointly funded by the Scottish Executive's Cities Growth Fund and Public Transport Fund, Inverness Common Good Fund, The Highland Council and HIE Inverness & East Highland. Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, said: "Church Lane and School Lane give the first signs of the results that can be expected from the rest of the streetscaping; the quality of the materials and workmanship, the attention to detail in the design and how sympathetic it will be to the character of the area and the many fine buildings. Those out taking an evening stroll will begin to see the effects that our city lighting strategy "illuminatinginverness" will bring - highlighting the lovelier buildings and architectural details. We want to encourage people to look up a bit more."
As well as up there will be special details to look down for, in the paving, as part of the streetscape public art plan. The first of these can also be seen on Church Lane. DUFI artists Fin Macrae and Al MacInnes have been commissioned to develop a series of "Street Texts" engraved into the paving in a contemporary style. A series of 25 or 30 of these will be developed throughout the project area. They will be based on the theme of water which is intrinsic to Inverness with the river and the canal. The two in Church Lane have a biblical connection and Fin Macrae said: "We are seeking other watery inspired quotes and suggestions from the wider community. We have had a great response from local writers through the Northwords magazine. The Gaelic community have given us some really good suggestions and we are approaching local musicians. I'm confident we will get an interesting selection to create a real sense of the place.
"DUFI have also designed special T-Shirts for the construction team, some of whom are Portuguese. The Portuguese proverb "Agua mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura." roughly translates as: soft water dripping will eventually penetrate hard stone. Put more simply it can be interpreted as perseverance delivers results. As the streetscaping works continue in Church Street, Bridge Street and into other areas over the next 17 months this saying could be quite appropriate. |
MIND THE GAP TO NESS ISLANDS
08 February 2007
The improvement of the Ness Islands, Inverness, continues on Monday (12 February) when work starts to replace two of the older footbridges. Access from Ladies Walk will be temporarily suspended for approximately four weeks from Monday to allow new decks and railings to be fitted at the entrance bridge, near Cavell Gardens. The smaller footbridge, a few hundred yards distant which crosses the Ault na Skiah Burn, will also be replaced.
Provost William Smith, chairman of the City of Inverness Area Committee of The Highland Council, said: “It is good to see steady progress with the works on the Ness Islands. When walking there recently I was stopped by many people with positive comments about the new benches and the improvements still to come. I look forward to seeing it all complete by the summer.”
The new bridges should re-open by mid-March and will feature specially designed balustrades by artist/blacksmith Adam Booth.
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, said: “Adam’s railings will make a statement that there is something quite special worth exploring across the bridge. We hope that local users and visitors will agree that they will make a more fitting entrance for the Islands.”
During the closure period the public is advised to use the alternative entrance at Island Bank Road. Access from the Bught Park area across the General’s Well Bridge will not be affected.
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For more information contact
Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer 01463 723539 or marie.mackintosh@highland.gov.uk
Background
The replacement bridges form part of the wider Ness Islands Enhancement Programme which is investing £440, 000 to improve the fabric of the area and provide a better quality experience for visitors. The funding partners include: Inverness City Partnership, Inverness Common Good Fund, HIE Inverness & East Highland, Highland 2007, Inverness City Heritage Trust and Scottish Natural Heritage. |
SEEKING 3 NEW VIRTUES FOR INVERNESS
06 February 2007
Faith Hope and Charity were virtues associated with the Victorian age and for many years a sculpture of the virtues was prominently displayed in Inverness. Now Inverness City Partnership want the public to have their say on three contemporary virtues that can carry the city forward into the 21st century.
The three virtues chosen will be carved into Caithness stone as part of a new installation to feature in the Old Town Streetscape Project on Church Street. A public unveiling will be scheduled for later this year.
Partnership artist Matt Baker had been consulting various groups - such as Highland Youth Forum, the churches and even rounding up some present-day philosophers - to talk about contemporary ideas about society’s values.
He is inviting the public to text their thoughts to 07794-990-135 between tomorrow (Wednesday 7 February) and 28 February and these will be featured on the City Partnership’s website www.citypartnership.org.uk. Those people whose ideas are featured will be entered into a mystery prize draw.
Matt Baker said: “Inverness is a wonderfully exciting place to be now. There is a sense of expectation about what kind of city it can transform itself into. Faith, Hope and Charity were virtues associated with the Victorian era and we want to ask people for their thoughts about today’s values.”
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, said: “Inverness’s old town is changing. Road signs and diggers give a clear signal that work has started to revitalise the city centre. Over the next few months, the public will see improved road and pavement surfaces and new lighting. And various arts projects will be at the heart of this process too. Making this process fun and inclusive is important to the City Partnership. Like “Imagining the Centre”, the arts event we commissioned for Church Street in September of last year, we want to excite and involve the public in what’s being designed for the old town.”
Some diverse ideas have already been suggested including honesty, trust and connection. The project wants to hear anyone’s suggested words that can capture Inverness’s present-day profile and sum up what is truly special about being part of the community here.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
1. Calls to text vote are charged at normal network rate and no money is made by the project.
2. An exhibition about the streetscaping and arts commissioning programme is currently on display to the public at the City Partnership office at 20 Bank Street.
Contacts:
Marie Mackintosh, 01463 723539
Matt Baker, Lead Artist Tel. 01387 740680 or info@mattbaker.org.uk
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HIGHLAND COUNCIL AWARDED SUBSTANTIAL GRANT FOR CITY WOODLANDS
11 January 2007
The Highland Council has been awarded £65,000 of funding through the Forestry Commission Scotland’s national initiative ‘Woodland In and Around Town (WIAT) Challenge Fund’. This award aims to improve woodland environments, and increase access and recreation opportunities for people living in built up areas.
Grant funding will be spent on management operations in two city woodlands. The works will improve the wildlife habitats, footpaths and also maintain healthy tree cover.
The two woodlands set to benefit from these projects are Millburn Woods, Old Perth Road and Inshes Wood in Westhill. These projects form part of the Inverness City Vision and the WIAT funding will be augmented by support from Inverness City Partnership through the Cities Growth Fund.
The first phase of work due to begin in February at Millburn Woods and shall focus on tree surgery work alongside footpaths and small scale thinning. The works will improve biodiversity by creating and managing standing deadwood habitats and encourage the development of an under storey of native shrubs as well as younger trees.
An important part of the funding package is earmarked for work with schools and community groups and will include training in wildlife identification – a timetable of events in both woodlands will follow in the next few months. These community based events will also feed into the creation of a sustainable woodland management plan, which guide work in these woodlands for future generations.
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For further information or to arrange a photograph at either of these sites then please contact Ben Clinch, Inverness City Partnership Tree Project Officer on 01463 723535. |
NEW YEAR TO RING IN CHANGES TO CITY CENTRE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
21 December 2006
Inverness City Partnership, The Highland Council and Tulloch Civil Engineering Ltd have agreed a switch over date of Monday 22 January 2006 to introduce new traffic movement arrangements in the city centre. The changes are taking place as part of the first phase of the City Centre Streetscape and Traffic Management Programme to allow drivers to get used to the new access arrangements and pave the way for construction works.
The traffic flow will change direction in north Church Street from Friar’s Lane to Queensgate, and will also be reversed in Post Office Avenue towards Academy Street. The short section of Church Street from Baron Taylor’s Street to Union Street will become one way towards Union Street. All vehicles will be permitted to turn left as well as right at the exit from Queensgate (and straight on to Strother’s Lane). A right turn will also be allowed from Margaret Street to Academy Street.
Detailed drawings can be viewed in the window of The Highland Council Service Point from 22nd December 2006 and within the City Partnership Office from 8th January 2007. Advance road signs will be erected a few weeks before the changeover and posters will be put up throughout the city centre to alert pedestrians.
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer said "The new circulation system is designed to reduce unnecessary traffic in an important retail and business area of the Old Town while still maintaining vehicle access, and making the bus routes more efficient. We are making the changes in January to allow drivers to get used to them and to ease traffic management during the Streetscape construction works."
The first signs of activity will be engineers working on the traffic signals. Early Streetscape works will address the two main entrances to Church Street. Then work will start to create a new pedestrian crossing at Bridge Street to draw people into Church Street and the Old Town. Thereafter, in carefully planned stages, sections of the pavements, then parking, loading and bus bays will be reconstructed using Caithness flagstones and granite.
Marie added: “The streets will remain open while works are on-going with full access to all businesses and residences. While we would ask drivers to use the car parks as much as possible there is no need to avoid the city centre.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Water hope to make a New Year announcement confirming plans for main replacement works in the area. These will take place in conjunction with Streetscaping works by Tulloch Civil Engineering Ltd.
Tulloch is setting up a site office in the city centre. They will have site managers based there to oversee both projects.
Iain Henderson, managing director of Tulloch Civil Engineering Ltd, said: "We look forward to receiving the go-ahead to start work on this exciting project which on completion will be of such immense benefit to users of the city centre.
"It will be a major challenge for us and such high-profile work will inevitably cause some disruption. But we have put in a great deal of planning, in conjunction with The Highland Council's project managers, aimed at minimising inconvenience to pedestrians, motorists, retailers and shoppers. We are opening a site office and our site managers will be ready to advise and inform anyone affected on an ongoing basis."
A new display will be set up in the City Partnership Office by the time works start to inform the public of the plans and help them visualise how things will look.
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, said: "We are delighted to get work underway on this project. This is the start of a £6m investment in our city centre which will transform the historic core of Inverness in a sympathetic and sensitive way. I hope people will begin to get excited about the future outcome, that they will come along and see how work is progressing and continue to support the shops and businesses in the old town."
Click the link below for a large version of the graphic. |
Launch of the Highlands First Community Television Network
15 November 2006
A Community Television Network was launched in Inverness today (Wednesday) to deliver key public information messages directly into the heart of the community.
42 inch plasma screens have been installed at nine locations in Inverness and one in Tain which attract high volumes of the public in a waiting situation. Run on a 30-minute loop of “infomercials”, the screens broadcast local information, community safety messages, national news, weather and sport, emergency messages and crime reduction initiatives to help combat crime and reduce the fear of crime within the area and forthcoming events in the Highland 2007 programme.
Sites in Inverness are: - Inverness College, Eastgate 2 Food Court; Tesco Extra Café (Inverness Retail Park), Raigmore Hospital (restaurant), Inverness Leisure, Inverness Library, McDonalds, Inverness Airport and Inverness Service Point. In Tain, the screen in located in the health centre.
Inverness City Partnership is working in association with Community Communication Network Ltd on the project, which has funding for three years. It is the second such television network for Scotland, following CCN’s successful launch of a similar network, ‘Glasgow Matters’, earlier this year.
The benefits of the initiative include encouraging greater participation in local events or healthy lifestyles and helping inform the local community and engaging them in consultation exercises.
The network and screens in Inverness have been funded by eight public sector partners (see background info) who have been heavily involved in the project and are part of the Highland Welbeing Alliance.
Councillor Alison Magee, Convener of The Highland Council and Inverness City Partnership, said: "I am impressed by the potential that the Community Partnership Television system holds for Inverness and the wider city-region through the delivery of a lively and stimulating programme of information and advice to all age groups and all sections of our community.
“The network has the flexibility to adapt the content to target the audience profile at each location and I am pleased that the system gives us the opportunity to promote Highland 2007 – the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture.”
Councillor Magee said the community television project was one of several elements of the Inverness City Vision, which included the enhancement of the Ness Islands; public art and city lighting strategies and the city centre streetscape and traffic management programme, which will begin early in the New Year. She said: “The screen network will be a valuable tool in keeping the community abreast of these developments, informing them of what to expect and the areas affected by construction works.”
Ian Rose, Chairman of CCN, commented: “We are delighted to install our first network within the Highlands and are pleased that Inverness City Partnership have engaged on the project with us.”
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Community Partnership Television
04 October 2006
Inverness City Partnership (ICP) and other agency partners are introducing a new community information service for the Inverness area next month. The community television project, to be launched on Wednesday 15 November, will provide an effective and responsive medium for transmitting messages on a wide range of local initiatives over three years.
Nine 42-inch plasma screens will be installed in Inverness in areas which attract high volumes of the public in a waiting situation where they will get maximum exposure to the information. A tenth screen is planned to be located in Tain.
The screens will run a 30-minute loop of “infomercials” covering local projects or initiatives, community safety messages, local warnings or missing persons, events, services. These will be interspersed with generic national material (CCN have a licence to use Home Office and Scottish Executive material), locally produced material of suitable quality and news and weather reports.
The idea was first brought to Inverness by Community Communication Network Ltd. (CCN), a company established in 2003 to transmit information on community safety and other public initiatives on behalf of community safety or local strategic partnerships. They had developed an inclusive package of hardware, software, creative content and web-based management to provide the full service under one contract.
Nick Ross of Crimewatch is a patron and the first network was launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair in his constituency at Easington Co. Durham in April 2003. It has now been rolled out in a further 16 towns and cities across the UK, including Glasgow which launched in April 2006.
ICP and Safeinverness formed a Steering Group in February 2005 and, having discussed the benefits and marketing potential with local partners, decided to raise the funds to install a system in Inverness with a possible roll-out to the wider city-region. The idea was taken to the Small Towns Network Forum in January 2006, and Tain indicated interest in being the pilot rural location.
Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer, explained that initially eight to twelve 30-second local features will be produced with a minimum of four new features filmed each quarter. Themes for Inverness and the Highlands will include: various community safety messages such as fire prevention, drug & alcohol misuse; the environment; business support; local events of all types including Highland 2007; encouraging healthy lifestyles and activities. Up-to-date information about local initiatives and community projects will be a key part of the content.
She said: "The visual medium of television is very effective and has proved a success in other towns and cities. The benefits include raising public awareness about local issues or services available to them and about what’s coming up. This leads to greater take up of help, better engagement between the public and agencies and increased community confidence." |
Ness Islands Enhancements
03 October 2006
A £440,000 enhancement of the Ness Islands, the popular beauty spot in Inverness, is progressing well with tree management and new and upgraded street lighting completed and a new seating arena due for completion by the end of this month.
New benches are due for installation later this month with new Gateway features to follow before the end of the year. New bridge decks and balustrades are scheduled for installation in January/February, next year.
A tender process is under way for bridge, footpath and bank repair works, while there are plans to organise more rhododendron and brash clearance and some re-planting now space has become available.
Members of Inverness City Partnership visited the islands recently for a progress report on the project.
Provost William Smith said: “The Ness Islands is a real treasure for local residents and visitors alike and the environmental improvements will add greatly to people’s enjoyment of this beauty spot. I am pleased with the progress that is being made.”
As well as overseeing tree management work to fell and thin 6% of mature trees and 26% of smaller trees which are dead, damaged or causing other risks, the City Partnership has commissioned four artists and craftsmen to sculpt new features in wood, natural stone and metal. They are Keith Barrett, Nigel Ross, Adam Booth and Chris Bailey.
Information on the history and natural features of the Islands will be developed and made available through leaflets and websites and an educational activity ‘story sack’ created for use by rangers, schools and other groups. |
Consultation Road Show by Greeninverness and The Highland Council Core Paths Plan
25 September 2006
Working together Greeninverness and The Highland Council are preparing to carry out a City-wide community consultation exercise in October 2006. They hope to encourage people to give their views on their local greenspace and to identify the City’s most important paths. Additional funding for the consultation has been made available from Scottish Natural Heritage.
Fifteen drop-in sessions are planned to cover the whole City. Greeninverness will also have a display in the City Partnership Office at 20 Bank Street for the whole month of October, Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm where locals will have an opportunity to complete a questionnaire and add ask any questions or make additional comments. In addition to this online questionnaires will be available from the greeninverness website www.greeninverness.com and our website.
The aims of the consultation is to find out from local residents and communities:
• What they value most about their local greenspace?
• What paths are important and why?
• How they currently use the local greenspace?
• Would they like to see the area improved or developed?
• What improvement ideas they have.
Councillor Jimmy Gray, Highland Council’s Chairman of the Planning, Development Europe and Tourism Committee said: “For many residents and visitors the open green spaces are the defining characteristics of Inverness. Areas such as the Riverside, the Bught Park, the Canal and increasingly so the new walks and wooded areas such as Daviot, Culloden and the Great Glen Way. All important havens for leisure, wildlife and the environment. It is therefore critically important that we raise awareness and invest in these facilities so that future generations may also cherish and enjoy them.”
Debbie Maguire the Greeninverness Officer said: “We really want to reach as wide an audience as possible and by going out to different areas around the city we hope to encourage more involvement and participation.
“The results of the consultation will inform the development of a Greenspace Strategy for Inverness. It is vitally important that this reflects the desires of local people and I am hoping to achieve a good level of response.”
There are the added benefits to all those who get involved as there will be a number of free gifts and prize draws held at each event.
Stewart Eastaugh, access officer for Inverness and Nairn said: “In 2008 the Council has to produce a plan of selected, important paths for the whole area. Deciding what paths to include will heavily on people’s opinions so we need to give anyone who wants to contribute every opportunity to have their say.”
Throughout October, drop in sessions will be at: Hilton Community Centre on Tues 3rd, Smithton Hall on Wed 4th, Raigmore Community Centre on Thurs 5th, MP33 Office, Grant Street on Mon 9th, St John's Church Hall on Tue 10th, Muirtown Primary on Wed 11th,
Culduthel Hall on Mon 16th, Culloden Academy Community Centre on Tue 17th Oct, Cameron Youth Centre on Tue 24th, Drakies Primary on Wed 25th, Holm Primary on Thu 26th, and Muirtown Primary on Fri 27th all from 3.30pm – 7.30pm.
On Fri 6th, the drop in session will be at Inverness Leisure from 9.30am – 9.30pm; and it will be at Eastgate Shopping Centre on Sat 21st from 9am – 6pm, and again at the Shopping Centre on Sun 22nd from 10am – 5pm.
The schedule of dates and venues is available on the greeninverness website at www.greeninverness.com and the Council's website.
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For further information please contact Debbie Maguire, Greeninverness Officer at the City Partnership Office, 20 Bank Street, Inverness, IV1 1QU, Tel: 01463 723545, Mob: 07879 667699, Fax: 01463 232253. Email: debbie.maguire@highland.gov.uk
Stewart Eastaugh, Access Office, Planning and Development Service, The Highland Council, North Tower, Inverness Castle, Inverness, IV2 3EG. Tel 01463 702186. Email: stewart.eastaugh@highland.gov.uk
Katy Martin, Senior Ranger for Inverness and Nairn, Planning and Development Service, The Highland Council, North Tower, Inverness Castle, Inverness, IV2 3EG, Tel: 01463 724312 Email: Katy.Martin@highland.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
Background information on Greeninverness availble on the website www.greeninverness.com
Greenspace defined in this context relates to land or water, which includes formal parks, public gardens and cemeteries, play areas, sports fields and recereation areas, or informal areas such as landscaped areas, riverside and canal corridoors, woodland and undeveloped wasteland.
Venues and times for the consultation road show are:
Venue Date Times
Hilton Community Centre Tue 3rd Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Smithton Hall Wed 4th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Raigmore Community Centre Thu 5th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Inverness Leisure Fri 6th Oct 9.30am – 9.30pm
MP33 Office, Grant Street Mon 9th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
St John's Church Hall Tue 10th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Muirtown Primary School Wed 11th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Culduthel Hall Mon 16th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Culloden Academy Community Centre Tue 17th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Eastgate Shopping Centre Sat 21st Oct 9am – 6pm
Eastgate Shopping Centre Sun 22nd Oct 10am – 5pm
Cameron Youth Centre Tue 24th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Drakies Primary School Wed 25th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Holm Primary School Thu 26th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm
Muirtown Primary School Fri 27th Oct 3.30pm – 7.30pm |
Artists Reveal Hidden Heroes of Inverness
31 August 2006
Guess the local celebrity is the name of the game for people visiting Inverness city centre on Saturday (2 September).
On the southern face of the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Church Street, they will see partial images of 14 “Hidden Heroes” – 14 members of the Inverness community, who are not often recognised for their service but who deserve recognition.
And on Saturday week (9 September), during a one-day public art event called Imagining the Centre, all will be revealed when the Hidden Heroes are uncovered.
Arts group “First Impressions”, led by artists Dean Melville and Evelyn Pottie, have created 14 massive portraits - together titled Hidden Heroes - which will be installed on Saturday. Viewers visiting the site will see severely-cropped photographs, making it difficult to identify the sitters.
Imagining the Centre is a one-day art event involving 14 Highland artists, writers, performers, historians and musicians, which will take place on Church Street from 11 am – 11 pm |
Imagining the Centre: Art in the Old Town of Inverness
10 August 2006
Church Street is the venue for a free day-long event on Saturday 9 September aimed at involving the public in a major regeneration programme for the old town of Inverness.
From 11 am until 11 pm, the public is invited to the main thoroughfare in the old town to view and comment on the work of 14 Highland artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers and aural historians, who will represent the past, present and future of the city.
In daylight hours, “Imagining the Centre” will feature sculptural installations, performance, audio art and murals.
As darkness falls, giant projections and multi-media performances will emerge and bring the streets to life.
Lead Artist, Matt Baker, has selected participants for their diverse practices and professions, to ensure a variety of styles and approaches.
The event is funded by the Inverness City Partnership with support from the Scottish Arts Council as part of a £6 million schedule of improvements for the old town. The aim of Imagining the Centre is to involve artists and the general public in a creative and lively conversation about the nature and identity of the area. Feedback from the public will be recorded and will inform other permanent works planned for the old town by Matt Baker and other artists.
Projects planned for the day are:-
Cape Reality by Graeme Roger and Jeep Solid
A Multi-media performance featuring one of the city’s prodigal musician sons. Cape Reality draws on a personal Highland genealogy within the highly charged historical context of the Old Kirkyard. Performance at 10pm
Lorg by Caroline Dear and Rosie Newman
Installation featuring materials from the landscape surrounding Inverness and featuring the songs of birds that would have lived in the Old Town when it was simply the bank of the River Ness.
Prey Pray by Sam Barlow and John McGeoch
A giant steel Sea Eagle dives on Church St. During the day a hidden camera gathers images that are combined with footage from the natural landscape for an evening projection work with live music accompaniment. Performance at 9pm
One Day Revoledium ution by Dufi and Sophie McCook
The streets of the Old Town are infused with radical messages from the past and future of Inverness. Look out for giant banners, wall paintings and the reincarnation of the city’s lost Victorian statues ‘Faith, Hope and Charity’
Hidden Heroes by Dean Melville and Evelyn Pottie
Contemporary portraits local personalities accumulate in the weeks preceeding ‘Imagining the Centre’ resulting in a unique interpretation of the city as a whole.
to the power of by Gavin Lockhart
Powerful projection work showing the generation of power as one facet of the complex relationship between an urban centre to the landscape surrounding it.
Soft City by Gordon Urquhart
A sound collage of local voices, opinions and memories about Inverness.
Inverness is Pants by Sarah Barnes
Your opportunity to air your opinions and ideas about your city through the unlikely medium of artistic underwear.
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Contacts:
Evi Westmore, Public Art Coordinator, Inverness City Partnership
01463-723-533
evi.westmore@highland.gov.uk
Matt Baker, Lead Artist Inverness Streetscape Programme
07885-957-401
info@mattbaker.org.uk |
Greenspace Audit Consultation
19 July 2006
Greeninverness is to carry out a major community consultation exercise in October 2006 to find out how people living in the city view their local greenspace.
Based on the recommendations and opportunities identified in the 2005 Greenspace Audit,
14 consultation sessions are planned for the 7 districts of the city.
The aim of the consultation is to find out from local residents and communities...
• What they value most about their local greenspace?
• How they get there?
• How they currently use the space?
• Would they like to see the area improved or developed?
• What improvement ideas they have.
The community consultation is a joint venture between Greeninverness and The Highland Council, with additional funding from Scottish Natural Heritage.
Debbie McCallum the Greeninverness Officer said: “We want people to think about our questions over the summer while they are out and about enjoying the greenspace in and around Inverness so in October we can collect some up-to-date comments and opinions.”
A variety of consultation methods will be used in order to reach as wide an audience as possible including, a display in the City Partnership Office, a consultation road show, workshops and a web-based questionnaire.
Debbie added: “The results of the consultation will inform the development of a Greenspace Strategy for Inverness. It is vitally important that this reflects the desires of local people and I am hoping to achieve a good level of response.”
A schedule of dates and venues will be available in September on the greeninverness website at www.greeninverness.com. |
“Old Town” Traffic Movement Orders Formally Advertised
15 June 2006
Proposed changes to road traffic movements in the centre of Inverness are formally published from today (Friday 16 June). The proposals form the cornerstone of the multi-million pound City Centre Streetscape & Traffic Management Programme being implemented by The Highland Council and Inverness City Partnership.
Advertising changes to the Road Traffic Orders is a statutory requirement and gives the general public and local businesses 21 days to make any formal objections to the proposals. A map and a description of the roads movements affected are available for viewing at The Highland Council Service Point, Church Street Inverness. The proposals include:
• permitting a right turn exit from Margaret Street and left turn exit from Queensgate for all vehicles;
• altering the traffic flow to go in the opposite direction from the north end of Church Street to the Queensgate junction;
• restricting vehicle access in the eastern section of Baron Taylor’s Street in line with restrictions in place for High Street and Inglis Street.
Bus priority will be reinforced in Fraser Street by restricting right turn entry from Bank Street to buses, taxis and pedal cycles only.
Provost William Smith, Chairman of the City and Inverness Area Committee of The Highland Council, said: “The business community has been anxious to see what is finally planned to reduce traffic and improve the pedestrian environment in the old town area of the city centre. In the end we have gone for a compromise – no pedestrian priority, but measures to ease the flow of public transport by discouraging unnecessary private cars. I commend the proposals and urge the business community support us in this great opportunity to improve our city centre.”
This is the first part of a three-stage process. Revised Road Traffic Orders covering Ardross Terrace and the junction with Young Street/Huntly Street will follow in due course, as will the proposed parking and loading arrangements within the city centre core.
Meanwhile the competitive tenders have been received in respect of the construction contract and the appraisal process is well advanced. Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, said: “We have conducted quality assessment interviews and are now evaluating the cost submissions. We hope to be in a position to award the contract in July with works to start at the end of the summer Final layout drawings will be prepared over the coming weeks and when these are completed we will announce a new public display in the City Partnership Office.”
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For further information contact:
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, City Partnership Office, 20 Bank Street, Inverness, IV1 1QU. 01463 723539 or marie.mackintosh@highland.gov.uk or Cameron Kemp, integrated transport manager, The Highland Council, Transport, Environmental & Community Services, Glenurquhart Road, INVERNESS, IV3 5NX. 01463 702612 or Cameron.kemp@highland.gov.uk
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RIVERSIDE REVIEW PROPOSALS ON DISPLAY AT THE CITY PARTNERSHIP OFFICE
23 March 2006
Inverness City Partnership will be displaying plans for improvements centred on the River Ness from Monday (27 March). Included in the display will be:
- details of the Ness Islands Enhancement Programme;
- plans for the re-planting of the Castle Motte;
- wider proposals for environmental improvements to the Castle Grounds;
- the new landscaping and artworks planned as part of the redeveloped Eden Court; and
- images of the emerging City Lighting Strategy.
The plans are part of the City Vision strategy to enhance the city’s natural and historic assets and capitalise on the Castle and River as focal points to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. They are at various stages of development but should all be implemented within the next 12 months.
Physical works will commence on the Ness Islands from Monday with tree surgeons set to commence a 6-week tree management contract. Keith Barrett, the environmental artist commissioned to design and construct a new seating arena will also be on site next week to prepare the open space on the middle Island for work scheduled to take place between April and July. There will be some disruption to public access during this time and users are asked to observe the public notices for their own safety. The display includes images of the new carved entrance features and benches, and bridge balustrades to be installed on the Islands later in the year. All have been designed by artists to be sympathetic to the Islands’ natural environment.
Visitors to the display will be able to see a photo-realistic animated visualisation of the City Lighting Strategy showing plans for exciting new lighting effects on key bridges, and upgraded floodlighting to the Castle, churches and historic buildings along the riverside and within the Old Town. They will also see examples of the LED lighting equipment that will be used. The results will be striking and will significantly enhance the riverside scene after dark. This will create a positive image of Inverness and support the growing evening economy.
Provost William Smith said "This display showcases an exciting array of projects designed to improve the quality of the public realm within the city and make the most of our wonderful assets. Overall it represents an investment package in excess of £1million pounds, largely met from the City Vision budget with partner funding. This will make a real impact and I recommend that people call in and see for themselves the difference this will make."
The display will be open from 10am to 4pm, Monday – Friday, 27th March through to 28th April at the City Partnership Office, 20 Bank Street, Inverness.
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For further information contact:
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, Inverness City Partnership, City Partnership Office, 20 Bank Street, Inverness, IV1 1QU. 01463 723539 or marie.mackintosh@highland.gov.uk |
NEW ARENA FOR NESS ISLANDS
20 March 2006
The Ness Islands enhancement programme gets under way this week when environmental artist, Keith Barrett, begins work on creating a new 'arena' in the central open space on the site of the old bandstand and roller-skating rink. A series of low, curving earth banks will be faced in local stone and have inbuilt wooden seating. This will provide seating in the sunniest spot on the island, and the curving forms will be ideal for children's play as well as outdoor group events such as those run by The Highland Council’s rangers, and occasional performances arranged by the Arts Officer or local groups.
Keith is committed to producing designs in close consultation with people most affected by the work. For this project the children joined him on the Islands and identified things that are important to them about the area. These will be turned into drawings and 2D reliefs which will be cast in iron and incorporated into his final work. Site preparation and construction will begin in April.
Keith said: "I am particularly interested in working in a landscape context, and even more so in association with water. A persistent theme in my work has been an exploration of the relationship between people and their landscape at the point it meets the water’s edge. The Ness Islands provides an ideal setting to represent this sort of theme. I hope people will enjoy using the space either as a meeting and social space or for quiet reflection."
Keith’s skills are ideally suited to this commission, since they include large scale timber carving and construction, stone work and earthwork construction. Inverness City Partnership Officer Marie Mackintosh said that Keith will be on site from April until early July. She said: "This is a substantial work and the central area will be fenced off for safety reasons while it progresses. However, it will be clearly visible to the public and we hope locals will enjoy seeing the creation take shape as they walk past it. Next year it will be the venue for an exciting community performance planned as part of Highland 2007."
The arena forms part of a wider enhancement strategy for the Ness Islands. Tree management works are due to get underway from Monday (27 March) and two further artists have been commissioned to produce new entrance interpretation features and benches. Other improvements to lighting and the provision of bins are also planned. The cost of the overall package of works is estimated at £250,000 and funding contributions have been confirmed from Inverness City Partnership, Inverness, Nairn , Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise, Highland 2007, and Inverness City Heritage Trust. An application will shortly be lodged with Scottish Natural Heritage.
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For further information contact:
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, City Partnership Office, 20 Bank Street, Inverness, IV1 1QU. 01463 723539 or marie.mackintosh@highland.gov.uk
Keith Barrett, artist 0191 258 0370 or keith@keithbarrett.co.uk |
£240,000 INVESTMENT FOR NESS ISLANDS ENHANCEMENT
13 February 2006
Inverness City Partnership has taken a major step towards the conservation and improvement of the Ness Islands with proposals for remedial work and enhancement, which will get underway next month.
The plans include tree management work to fell and thin some 6% of mature trees and 26% of smaller trees which are dead, damaged or causing other risks. This falls well within normal woodland management levels over a 10-20 year cycle.
In addition, the plans suggest additional lighting, removal of broken and mismatched signs, benches and bins, and undertaking remedial work to the bridges and footpaths, which are currently being assessed separately be engineers.
Among the suggestions is a series of commissions from artists and craftsmen who will sculpt new features in wood, natural stone and metal. Following a selection process, four artists have been short listed to create seating, bridge balustrades, a new landscaped meeting area and three gateway entrance features.
Information on the history and natural features of the Islands will be developed and made available through leaflets and websites and an educational activity ‘story sack’ created for use by rangers, schools and other groups.
The overall costs are estimated as £240,000 and a funding package is being assembled to allow the phased introduction of work to start next month. The majority of the work will be completed in time for community events to be held in 2007.
Plans for the regeneration programme were considered today (Monday) by The Highland Council’s City of Inverness and Area Committee.
Provost William Smith said: "These proposals have arisen out of the Inverness City Vision and follow-up reports that identified a series of potential improvements to maximise the appeal of the riverside and provide effective management of the city’s trees. The Ness Islands is a very special green space in the heart of the city centre; these improvements are important to maintain this wonderful and natural leisure area for current users and future generations."
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, explained: "I consider it a sound investment to preserve and enhance one of our greatest green assets. The funding package is being pulled together from sources external to the Council including City Vision funds, Inverness, Nairn Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise, and Inverness City Heritage Trust. Discussions are also taking place with Scottish Natural Heritage and Highland 2007. I think people will be pleasantly surprised with the results."
The proposals arise from extensive consultation with the users of the Islands and local groups. Over 3 weeks in late 2005, interviews were held with users on the Islands and local groups; others contributed through a self-completion questionnaire available at local and city-centre venues. A workshop was also held with groups from two local primary schools. The research was undertaken by Sue Pirnie, of Pirnie Limited, who commented, "There was a terrific interest, helped along by coverage by local and national media. All of those who contributed provided a great deal of useful information and ideas for which we are very grateful – we found that the Ness islands are a highly valued green oasis within Inverness and users share with us a commitment to protect their natural qualities".
Proposals for the Islands, including the artist’s design drawings, will be on display as part of a wider exhibition of riverside development plans at the Inverness City Partnership Offices in March.
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For further information contact:
Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, City Partnership Office, 20 Bank Street, Inverness, IV1 1QU. 01463 723539 or marie.mackintosh@highland.gov.uk |
Lead Artist Appointed to Promote City Centre Streetscaping Project
02 February 2006
Inverness City Partnership announced today (Thursday) that they have selected Matt Baker to be the Lead Artist on the City Centre Streetscaping programme. Matt will work collaboratively with the Streetscape Programme designers, Land Use Consultants, and community groups to look creatively at the issues involved and to generate a unique identity for the City Centre.
Matt will be promoting his own projects and coordinating those of other artists within the two-year programme.
Evi Westmore, Inverness Public Art Coordinator, said: "We are lucky to have Matt. His expertise and creativity will greatly enhance this exciting project."
The position is made possible by funding from the Scottish Arts Council and support from the Inverness City Partnership.
Matt was Lead Artist on the Gorbals’ Artworks Programme in Glasgow, which has received universal praise for its marriage of regeneration and art (for more information, visit: www.theartworksprogramme.org).
The Inverness City Centre Streetscaping Programme aims to create an attractive, vibrant and thriving City Centre environment reflective of Inverness as a successful, modern city capitalising on its heritage and historic Old Town.
The role of the Lead Artist is to work with the design team to develop a unified, overall design brief, to work with groups and individuals who live and work in the city centre and to identify opportunities for art commissions that will enhance and stimulate the environment.
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For more information, please call Evi Westmore, Public Art Coordinator, at 01463-723533. |
LAUNCH OF NEW COMMUTER RAIL SERVICES
12 December 2005
The Highland Council along with its partners, the Highland Rail Partnership, HiTrans and Highlands and Islands Enterprise has welcomed the introduction of 11 additional rail services in the Highlands by First ScotRail. Under the new Invernet services, launched today (Monday 12th), there will be an additional commuter rail services to and from Inverness from Lairg, Sutherland, via Tain and Invergordon in Ross-shire and two additional services from Kingussie, Strathspey, to Inverness.
The new Invernet services will make commuting by rail a realistic option for many people who work in Inverness, but choose to live outside the city. The new timetable will, for the first time, allow people from Lairg and Kingussie to arrive in the city by train before 9am.
Funding for these new ScotRail services has been provided by the Scottish Executive (£1,003,000), The Highland Council (£350,000), the HIE network (£200,000) and the Highland Rail Partnership (£4,000).
Councillor Charlie King, chairman of The Highland Council’s TEC Services Committee as well as the Highland Rail Partnership and HiTrans, said: "We welcome these important new services which will enable increased commuter rail travel in the greater Inverness area and Argyll. The Highlands and Islands have very ambitious plans for improving transport infrastructure and services both locally and nationally - rail will play an important part in the overall mix of services and this new Invernet timetable is a great step towards achieving our goals."
Frank Roach, rail development manager with the Highland Rail Partnership, said: "We are sure that these new services will prove to be of huge benefit to the communities of Sutherland, Easter Ross and Strathspey. Along with First ScotRail, we will be monitoring the passenger levels on these new services over the next few months, and are looking forward to real growth in numbers as awareness grows amongst the travelling public. We are sufficiently confident of success that we are already looking to implement new commuter services into Inverness from the East."
Stuart Black, chief executive INBSE, said: "Inverness is growing as a city region and as such it is vital that good commuter transport services are in place to link the city with its surrounding communities. These new rail services will enable people to travel to and from Inverness during peak hours, which will bring a range of benefits to the business community, as well as increased opportunities for leisure travel. We are delighted to have been able to work together with First ScotRail, the Scottish Executive and our other partners to introduce these key additional services." |
GREEN PROJECT GROWS ON MERKINCH AND SOUTH KESSOCK COMMUNITY
05 December 2005
Work is underway on a £20,000 environmental improvement project in the Merkinch area of Inverness. The Merkinch and South Kessock Environmental Project aims to make best use of the greenspaces within the area and to take forward initiatives that have been identified through community consultation as making a significant difference to the open spaces in the area.
The Project which saw improvements to the entrance to Carnac Point last year has continued with a bulb planting session at the Point and foreshore, and the Corbett Centre during the last weeks of October. A total of 25 bags of daffodil and crocus bulbs were planted by local residents, including local school children.
Other elements of the Project will include the installation of seating and picnic benches in community areas; a community designed series of signage and heritage panels; improvements to the paths at Westfield; further improvements to the environment at Carnarc Point and the revitalisation of the Corbett Centre gardens. The result will help to encourage participation and pride in the area as well as attracting visitors. The work will continue over the next four months, culminating in a community event in March 2006.
This Community led initiative is funded by Greenspace Scotland Community Environmental Renewal Scheme, the Inverness City Partnership and the European Union Community Economic Development programme, with co-ordination by the South Kessock Environmental Company, supported by Merkinch Enterprise and Greeninverness.
Local Highland Councillor Peter Corbett said: " I am delighted that this funding has been awarded to Merkinch. The bulb planting was a great success, with a good turnout from local residents. It was encouraging to see so many children taking part, and indicates that there is a real community commitment to enhance the open spaces in this area." |
NEW PUBLIC ART CO-ORDINATOR APPOINTED IN INVERNESS
25 November 2005
A much-travelled artist has been appointed in Inverness to draw up a public art strategy for the city. Artist, Evi Westmore, is the city’s first public arts co-ordinator and will be based within the Inverness City Partnership office at 20 Bank Street, Inverness.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, she has also lived in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Holland, the Czech Republic and the United States. She has exhibited her work in Glasgow, Beijing, Jakarta, Nuremburg and New York and curated public art projects in Sweden.
Before joining the City Partnership team, she graduated with an MFA from the Glasgow School of Art during the summer.
Evi’s three-year post is funded by Highland 2007, the City Partnership and Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise and managed by Hi-Arts.
City Partnership Officer, Marie Mackintosh said: "We have long felt the need for a public art strategy for Inverness. We are fortunate to have attracted such a talented young person with so much international experience to help us achieve our objectives.
"We can look forward to raising the profile of Inverness as the major culture centre, and place to live work and visit."
Evi said: "Over the next three years, I intend to support the creation of new works by Scottish and international artists that will both beautify public spaces and bring our communities together in common appreciation of the vibrant creativity that marks Scottish contemporary culture."
Evi has 9 major projects on her desk and is looking forward to progressing these.
She said: "This is a beautiful city that’s at an exciting juncture in its development. My hope is that we can develop a diverse portfolio of public art that enhances and reflects what Inverness is all about." |
TRAILBLAZING AT DALNEIGH, INVERNESS
22 November 2005
Work started this week on an ambitious project to revitalise the extensive playing fields at Dalneigh, Inverness.
In the Trailblazers Project, an all abilities path and cycleway will be built. This will be followed by a multi-use activity area being built at the site of the former BMX track.
The Trailblazers Project is led by The Greeninverness Partnership, which has secured £100,000 from Greenspace Scotland Community Environmental Renewal Scheme, the Inverness City Partnership City Vision fund and the European Union, via the Highland and Islands Special Transitional Programme.
The first phase will see the development of an all abilities path and cycleway that will provide a framework for future activity areas along its route. When complete, the project will extend from Fairfield Road, linking to the local community centre and primary school, and connecting to Tomnahurich, where it will link with the path from the canal to Bruce Gardens. The path will provide an all weather walking surface and a route for cyclists that will provide the community with easy access to the pathsinverness network and the canal.
As soon as the paths are in place, a further £40,000 has been committed by The Highland Council to help develop the first of a series of multi-use activity areas at the site of the former BMX track at Dalneigh.
Provost William Smith, local councillor for Dalneigh, has been active in seeing this project progress. He sees it as a positive opportunity to ensure greater use of the extensive playing fields and to initiate further ideas from the community for future activity areas. He said: "The Trailblazers Project has been developing over the last two years and we are fortunate to have secured the funds to take the project forward. The new path and play areas will open up the playing fields not only to the community, but will be of great benefit to the local schools and youth in Dalneigh as well as those who wish to visit the canal area."
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For further information, please contact David Andrews, at City Partnership Office on 01463 723530.
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TIMETABLE SET FOR CITY CENTRE PROGRAMME
16 November 2005
Work on the £6 million regeneration of Inverness city centre is due to get under way at the end of April, next year, and be completed by the end of 2007.
Inverness City Partnership, in association with The Highland Council, has appointed Land Use Consultants, Glasgow, to lead the design and implementation of the city centre streetscape and traffic management programme.
LUC met local stakeholders today (Thursday) and over the next week will be issuing a questionnaire to local businesses and residents to assist in the technical design process.
They will then progress the final design of the works and prepare tenders of the early phases of the nine-phase programme of improvements with the aim of awarding a contract in April, next year.
Phase one will see a new pedestrian crossing provided on Bridge Street, linking Castle Wynd and Church Street as well as improvements along the full length of Church Street.
Further phases will see improvements introduced at Queensgate; Union Street; Drummond Street/Baron Taylor’s Street/Lombard Street; Stephen’s Brae; Ness Walk; Station Square/Falcon Lane; Inglis Street and the Raining Stairs.
It is intended to sequence the work to allow the city centre streetscape to be progressively completed, without widescale simultaneous disruption.
Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer, said the appointment of the project managers was a significant milestone for the city centre project.
She said: "LUC have considerable experience in designing and project managing this kind of major city centre project and have given a commitment to closely liaise with local businesses and residents over the major works that lie ahead.
"It is unwise to give specific timescales for the nine phases of work at this stage, as much will depend on the progress LUC make with the design of the works and the tendering process and the progress we make in obtaining the necessary traffic orders to change the flow of traffic, parking and loading in the "old town".
"The programme will also have to be developed in detail with the contractor once appointed. But we have set a target for starting work on Bridge Street by the end of April and completing the programme by Christmas 2007 or early in 2008 and will do everything we can to stick to this."
The aim of the programme is to reduce traffic in the city centre; improve public transport services; create more space for pedestrians; and enhance the environment generally.
Funding has been secured from the Scottish Executive’s Public Transport Fund; the City Vision Fund; The Highland Council; Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise and the Inverness Common Good Fund.
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Notes To Editor:
Land Use Consultants (LUC) is an award winning multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy with expertise in urban and landscape design. The practice, with offices in Glasgow, London and Bristol, was landscape architect for the iconic Eden Centre in Cornwall, and is currently completing the £6 million public realm scheme for Glasgow’s International Financial Services District. LUC has been established in Scotland since 1979 and has worked extensively throughout Scotland and the north of England on a wide portfolio of design, planning and environmental management projects. In Inverness LUC will be supported by Arup, Turner& Townsend and ID Consultants. |
FIRST MINISTER’S VISIT TO INVERNESS SCHOOL OF AMBITION
16 September 2005
First Minister Jack McConnell today (Friday) visited Inverness High School – one of the first 20 secondary schools in Scotland to pilot the Schools of Ambition Programme, which aims to raise the ambitions of schools, instil belief and ambition in pupils, extend their opportunities and transform their life chances.
Funding of £100,000 per year over three years will allow the 487-pupil school to extend its growing links with the local community and improve provision of training in information technology and staff development at the school.
Accompanied by Education Minister, Peter Peacock, Mr McConnell met pupils who are involved in the school’s innovative enterprise project, involving the local community with the school at its centre. The REAL project (Real Education Active Lives) has already led to suggestions for improvements in the buildings, the curriculum, the role the school can play in the community and a plan for a social enterprise that can combine the public and private sectors.
He also met the 25 fourth year pupils who are heading to Kampala, Uganda, on Thursday 6 October on a two-week educational exchange visit and praised all pupils, staff and parents for raising £40,000 for the adventure.
Speaking about the School of Ambition Programme, Mr McConnell said: "In Scotland today, most pupils and most students have raised their aspirations and improved their results. But many still need a radical transformation to change expectations, improve discipline and create more success.
"We want our schools to aim high, stretch, challenge and inspire their pupils. We don't want to see youngsters in Scotland being told that they shouldn't have ideas above their station. We want them to have the ambition and belief that they can use their talents and achieve their full potential.
"I have no doubt that these Inverness pupils, and thousands more across the country, will do exactly that. This school, and nineteen others, have the determination and ambition to completely transform their school and give young Scots a better start in life. With schools full of pupils striving to achieve their ambitions, Scotland will be a more confident and successful country in the future."
the commitment and hard work which has been done by pupils, staff and other partners in developing the ideas which will take our school forward.
"Pupils enjoyed showing the First Minister a range of activities we are involved in, including our forthcoming trip to Uganda, which has involved the pupils in major enterprise activities to raise funds for the trip. They also explained how staff and pupils together have come up with innovative ideas for developing the school in its local community."
Councillor Andy Anderson, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee, said: "The school, its community and partners are to be commended for their vision and I am certain that they will make the most of this unique opportunity that has been afforded them." |
MASTER PLAN FOR A96 CORRIDOR
06 June 2005
Members of The Highland Council’s Inverness and Nairn Area Committees have agreed to support a development strategy of the A96 corridor which could provide homes for an expected 20-30,000 population growth over the next 30-50 years.
Both committees agreed to support for their interest the recommended A96 corridor strategy which sets out a vision for:
- population growth of 20-30,000 people over the next 30-50 years.
- a new settlement of 10,000+ population located south of the Airport to be developed post - 2011 on around 250ha of land, subject to detailed layout, programming and infrastructure contributions agreement.
- a new community/resort at the site of the former Ardersier Fabrication Yard for approximately 3000 people.
- expansion of existing settlements within the Corridor in accordance with housing allocations contained in the current Inverness and Nairn Local Plans at Ardersier, Croy, Culloden Moor/Sunnyside, Culloden and Nairn, together with various smaller settlements. These will accommodate a further 1200 houses (2500-3000 people).
- review of the scope for additional long term development around the southern edge of Nairn and the eastern margins of Inverness, linked explicitly to,
- improvements to the transport network, particularly further dualling of the A96(T), provision of a Nairn bypass and an interchange upgrade/bypass for Raigmore/Inshes.
- corresponding commitment to reinforce the existing Local Plan policy presumption against further development within the Corridor including sporadic housing in the countryside, allied with a strategy to enhance the landscape/heritage features and supplement recreational facilities including the network of cycle/walkways.
Members agreed that further public consultation and publicity of the proposals would start immediately and this would include the production of an illustrated summary leaflet and matching visual presentation describing the proposals and the process of their evolution to date. These items to be made widely available to residents, local groups and circulated to stakeholders for information purposes, supplemented by a public meeting in each Area.
Members agreed to contribute of £25,000 from the 2005/6 and 2006/7 Highland Council Planning and Development Service consultancy budget towards further consultancy costs totalling £150,000. The second stage of consultancy will cover detailed infrastructure studies on water supply, mains drainage, land use and strategic roads investigations, electricity supply arrangements, and production of an implementation plan. |
A96 CORRIDOR MASTERPLAN
31 May 2005
A new community, serving a population of 10,000-plus, should be created on the A 96 Inverness – Nairn road at Dalcross South - between Tornagrain and Drumine Farm, near Gollanfield - to meet the long term needs of the growing Inverness city region.
This is the main recommendation of the first phase of the A 96 Corridor Masterplan, which will be considered on Monday 6 June by members of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness and Area Committee and the Nairnshire Area Committee at a joint briefing in the Town House, Inverness, by consultants FG Burnett and Council planning officials.
The Masterplan, which sets out a long-term sustainable vision for the A 96 Corridor between Inverness and Nairn, earmarks 250 hectares of land in the ownership of Moray Estates on the south side of the main road as a new settlement which could be created to meet housing needs after 2011.
Access into the site would be opened up by the construction of the £4.1 million Airport Access road, which got underway last week. An 800-metre countryside separation buffer will be maintained with the nearest major community at Croy. However, it would integrate with the existing cluster of houses at Tornagrain. All ground is held by Moray Estates and availability for development has been confirmed.
The report also recommends:-
A new community/resort at the site of the former Ardersier Fabrication Yard for approximately 3000 people, subject to the outcome of feasibility studies into transport links, public safety (contamination/flood risk), impact on heritage designations and an agreed masterplan/contributions package.
Expansion of existing settlements within the Corridor in accordance with housing allocations contained in the current Inverness and Nairn Local Plans at Ardersier, Croy, Culloden Moor/Sunnyside, Culloden and Nairn, together with various smaller settlements. These will accommodate a further 1200 houses (2500-3000 people).
Review of the scope for additional long term development around the southern edge of Nairn and the eastern margins of Inverness, linked explicitly to improvements to the transport network, particularly further dualling of the A96: provision of a Nairn bypass; and an interchange upgrade/bypass for Raigmore/Inshes, Inverness.
Corresponding commitment to reinforce the existing Local Plan policy presumption against further development within the Corridor including sporadic housing in the countryside, allied with a strategy to enhance the landscape/heritage features and supplement recreational facilities including the network of cycle/walkways.
Major improvements to services, such as water and drainage, gas and electricity are also essential if development is to take place.
The plan takes forward the Council’s policy development, building on the approved Structure Plan, which identifies the need to identify a supply of land for more than 10,000 new dwellings in the Inverness and Nairn areas by the year 2017, as well as the Inverness City Vision, which envisages the A 96 Corridor accommodating up to 30,000 more people over the next 30-40 years.
The report notes that there are already significant developments planned in the A 96 Corridor, such as:-
the Airport Business Park, being promoted by a new Joint Venture Company, which is capable of accommodating in excess of 250,000 square metres of new workspace and facilities and generating more than 5,000 jobs;
the redevelopment of the former Ardersier oil fabrication yard at Whiteness Head by a private consortium which is preparing the creation of a mixed residential/resort-type development;
proposals for a new championship golf course, resort hotel and holiday lodges on ground west of the Airport at Castle Stuart.
As well as existing major development land allocations at Sandown, Nairn, and Stratton/Ashton/Seafield, Inverness, the Council is also aware of developer interest in schemes on the outskirts of both Inverness and Nairn.
Councillors will be asked on Monday to support the A96 Corridor strategy proposals; and to agree a cash limited contribution of £25,000 per year for the next two financial years to progress a second phase of consultancy examining detailed infrastructure needs and funding arrangements. |
CITY STREETSCAPE CONSULTATION REACHES OUT
26 April 2005
The Inverness community is being invited to let their fingers do the talking as a further dimension to the consultation on the Inverness City Centre Streetscape and Traffic Management Programme gets underway.
An innovative texting approach to getting public opinion will be tried for the first time in Inverness. TexTales is a web-based visual questionnaire which will be beamed onto a large screen, in a number of locations throughout the city, inviting viewers to text in their reactions to the questions. Recent text comments will show on the screen and be collated via the web.
Marie Mackintosh, City Partnership Officer, who is co-ordinating the streetscape consultation, said: "I am hoping the TexTales experiment will boost participation in the consultation exercise, reaching out to a wider audience and perhaps young people or those who would be less inclined to come in to the office. Ideally it will whet their appetite to visit the main exhibition to find out more. This is an exciting prospect for the city and we want to see what people think of the plans and where their priorities lie."
The TexTales screen will be in the window of one of the new units on Union Street (formerly Arnotts), courtesy of Tulloch Construction, on Wednesday 27th – Thursday 28th April, in the Eastgate 1 Centre on Friday 29th April and at the Aquadome, Inverness Leisure on Saturday 30th April.
The plans for the streetscape and traffic management programme are now on display in an exhibition at the City Partnership Office at 20 Bank Street, Inverness. The exhibition will be open between 9 am - 5 pm Monday – Friday until 5pm on Tuesday 10 May. It will also be open on Saturdays 30 April and 7 May between 10 am - 4 pm. Council and City Partnership Officers will be on hand for informal discussion and there will be an opportunity to make comments and give feedback on the proposals.
The £6m streetscape masterplan includes a new traffic management system and environmental improvements to ease congestion within the Old Town, and adjacent areas. £4m has already been identified to roll out the first phases of the programme beginning later this year until early 2007. The remaining £2m is to be raised to complete the works in 2008. |
11 September 2010 ~ View Current News
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