Joint Ward Forum
for Inverness Millburn, Culloden & Ardersier and Inverness South
Action Note of Ward Forum held on 13th May 2008, at Inshes Church at 7.30pm.
Attendees
Charles Stephen – Ward Manager – Culloden, Ardersier & Inverness South
Jimmy Flint – Ward Manager – Inverness Millburn
William Gilfillan – Corporate Manager – Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey
Fiona Duffy – Ward Manager – Aird & Loch Ness
David Polson – Area Planning & Building Standards Manager
Richard Hartland – Head of Planning & Building Standards
Les Houlker – Technical Manager, TEC Services
Representatives from Scott Wilson Consultants
Jim Smith – Principal Engineer, TEC Services
Cllr John Holden – Highland Council
Cllr Thomas Prag – Highland Council
Cllr Roderick Balfour – Highland Council
Cllr Roy Pedersen – Highland Council
Cllr Jim Crawford – Highland Council
Cllr Ian Brown – Highland Council
Cllr Kenneth MacLeod – Highland Council
Cllr Alex Graham – Highland Council
2 representatives from Smithton & Culloden Community Council
4 representatives from Culcabock & Drakies Community Council
5 representatives from Inverness South Community Council
2 representatives from Westhill Community Council
2 representatives from Croy Community Council
1 representative from Strathdearn Community Council
285 members of the public
Chief Inspector Julian Innes – Northern Constabulary
Neil Gillies – Director - Transport, Environmental and Community Services
Malcolm MacLeod – Development Plans Manager – Highland Council
Sam MacNaughton – Head of Transport and Infrastructure – Highland Council
Apologies:
Cllr John Ford – Highland Council
Cllr Glynis Sinclair – Highland Council
Cllr Jimmy Gray – Highland Council
William Gilfillan - Corporate Manager – Highland Council in the Chair
Agenda
1. Community Safety – Chief Inspector Julian Innes
2. Ward Discretionary Budget – Charles Stephen – Ward Manager
3. Theme: Inverness Trunk Link Road (Eastern Section)
Cllr Pedersen set the scene for the main theme, followed by presentations from:
Neil Gillies – Director - Transport, Environmental and Community Services
Malcolm MacLeod – Development Plans Manager – Highland Council
Sam MacNaughton – Head of Transport and Infrastructure – Highland Council
4. Questions/Comments from the Public:
David McGrath – Smithton & Culloden Community Council
Q. Infrastructure – the area designated for part of the road is in a high risk flood area also there is a lack of storm drains.
Q. Commuter Railway Station – Connections?
Q. There are too many roundabouts – A. Current Distributor Road was designed to have roundabouts.
Q. Why not start at the other end? A. Volume of traffic and the new UHI campus are the main reasons for starting at Eastern end.
Neil Hornsley – Highlands & Islands Green Party
Q. Finances that are available for the project – how will this affect future Highland Council planning – A. This is a one off bid to the Government to fund.
Scott Laws – Resident
Q. There is a designated amenity area north between current distributor road and Drakies – A. therefore the proposed northern route would provide the same for the residents south of the new road.
Paul Miller – Resident
Q. Safety Aspects in terms of Retail Park and the school. A. Noted
Jane MacBean – Culcabock & Drakies Community Council
Q. Why not start with bridge at western end of SDR? A. Inshes Roundabout is not coping at the moment – if the west end was done first then there would be even more traffic accessing the roundabout.
Ian MacFalen – Inverness South Community Council
Q. Why the spaghetti junction? Why not extend access at Milton of Leys? A. This was one of the options but did not provide all the solutions.
Vince Shea – Resident
Q. Park & Ride – will it be well subsidised for residents of Inverness so that it will encourage people to use it? A. Public transport has to be made more attractive than the car both for Inverness residents and those out with Inverness.
Scott Jeffrey - Resident
Q. With regard to the two routes – Where the routes go across areas outside of Inshes are these up for debate? A. At this stage nothing is set in stone – this is the start of the consultation process.
Bob Roberts – Inverness south Community Council
Q. Graded junctions at Milton of Leys and Longman
John MacDonald – Resident
Q. New Road will go through my garden? A. Will be taking every opportunity to engage with and hear comments from land owners.
Mike Lawson - Resident
Q. When we have the information on the actual scale and therefore the full impact on the area? A. August – full detailed information and at that stage will be coming back on comments from this and subsequent consultations.
Cllr John Holden – Inverness South Ward
Q. Balloch to A9 not A96 to A9 also there should be a new Fort William road not a bridge over to the A82.
Diane MacQueen – Resident
Q. Use the roads on the northern route where you already have the information rather than the southern route which is close to the houses and buildings and need to check on the soil samples etc.
Peter Knowles – Resident
Q. Park & Ride – relocated Tescos & church – where is the land coming from? A. No land specifically identified.
5. Date of Next Meeting: To be arranged by individual Wards