Wait for decision after Community Links PLUS project presentation to panel

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The ambitious ‘Inverness City Active Travel Network’ Project was presented to the Community Links Judging Panel in Edinburgh on Thursday last week. The Inverness Project is one of five submissions being considered by the Panel. 

The funding bid was presented by representatives from the Inverness Community Links PLUS partnership team consisting of officers from Highland Council and HITRANS.

If the funding bid is successful it would enable walking and cycling improvements throughout key routes linking into the City centre between Inverness Campus, the Railway Station, Bught Park and Abban street over the next three years.

The submission emphasised the partnership approach being taken for the Project and highlighted the support across the different public sector organisations and stakeholders.

Richard Gerring, The Highland Council’s Transport Planning Manager, said: “It felt like going into the dragons den.  We are asking for substantial monies to deliver a game changing situation for active travel in and around Inverness.  Everyone knows this is very worthwhile investment for health, social and economic reasons. 

“The Community Links PLUS Inverness City Active Travel Network programme will establish an outstanding infrastructure design and these measures will be supported by robust smarter travel, engagement and promotional programmes. We pressed home the collaboration across many different Highland organisations and now we will have to wait to see if we are going to be successful.”

Hitrans Active Travel Officer Fiona McInally joined Richard Gerring in giving the presentation to the panel. She added: “The project focuses around partnership working to ensure the best route from a whole range of stakeholders is realised if successful. Many of these stakeholders were interviewed and featured in a ‘sales pitch’ film developed by Sustrans Scotland who are administering the grant.

The Provost of Inverness, Councillor Helen Carmichael hopes it is good news when the panel make their announcement within the next four weeks. 

She said: “The Community Links PLUS programme for Inverness is consistent and complements the ambitious plans for economic development and expansion to attract more high quality employers to boost the economy of the wider Highlands and create a new and prosperous future for the city centre.”

 

 

 

22 Aug 2017