Highland Council to expand public consultation on planned road developments in the region of Inshes to Inverness
The consultation must be extended following the postponement of a walk-in event due to “extremely high” Covid-19 rates.
Highland Council officials had planned to hold face-to-face sessions today to discuss proposals to tackle traffic jams at Inshes roundabout – a notorious bottleneck – and on surrounding roads.
It was scheduled to be held at Inshes Primary School, but a council spokesperson said: “A new date for the event will follow in due course.”
He also confirmed that the consultation period will be extended although the exact date remains to be determined.
Residents’ fears and concerns about the proposals intensified after Lidl recently revealed plans for a new food store and affordable homes at a site near the roundabout. One local was asked to produce his own illustration highlighting new traffic lights and roundabouts that motorists might have to negotiate while another came up with a bold vision to create a road bridge over the roundabout existing.
Kenny Mackenzie, a Culduthel sales coordinator, didn’t think most people understood the potential impact of the proposals he called “awful.”
Mr. Mackenzie, who is also a specialist photographer with his own business, combined two sets of advice shots into one.
“These plans are almost criminal and will cause total traffic chaos with nowhere to go,” he said.
“The council, meanwhile, authorizes the construction of hundreds of new homes in Milton of Leys, Ness Castle, Ness Side, Slackbuie and soon Fairways.
“All of this will dramatically increase traffic in this area, which will be at a complete stop 95% of the time, because you will just go from one traffic light to another.
“If these plans come to fruition, I would seriously consider selling my house and moving completely across town or from Inverness. They are horrible.
Meanwhile, Arthur Millwood of West Heather Road has come up with his own innovative solution to create a ‘walkway’ bridge over the existing roundabout.
Traffic would be required between the southern distribution road and the A9 while pedestrian tunnels would be another feature.
Mr Millwood (83), a retired engineer in the glass industry, said there had to be a solution to the 21st century problem rather than just focusing on a “boring set of traffic lights” .
“Surely the city of Inverness deserves something better which would provide a sort of technical and design elegance to create a gateway statement for visitors and residents coming from all points to join the ring road and access the Raigmore hospital, ”he said.
“I know the budget is tight, but it’s a city, for god’s sake.
“Are we so badly off that we can’t do a decent move that would improve the whole neighborhood for residents and visitors?”
Mr Millwood admitted that he had not costed his proposals, but had responded to the Highland Council’s invitation to participate in the public consultation.
The area included in the so-called Inshes Corridor includes the eastern approach to the Inshes roundabout on the B9006 across the A9 flyover, access to Inshes Business Park, Sir Walter Scott Drive (north and south) from Inshes Roundabout and the B9006 Old Perth Route to the Fluke Junction opposite Raigmore Hospital.
What do you think of the traffic situation at Inshes? Send an email to [email protected]