Business as usual during streetscape works

Work began this week on the second phase of a £947,000 package of town centre improvements in Dingwall.

The Highland Council has appointed Pat Munro (Alness) Ltd as contractors to implement streetscape works, which will last for approximately 8 weeks and will include the High Street from the museum to the junction with Tulloch Street. WA Fairhurst & Partners (Inverness) have been appointed by the Council as consulting engineers for the work.

An allocation of £460,000 within The Highland Council Planning and Development Service Capital Programme has enabled additional funding of £462,000 to be secured through the Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund. In addition to the core streetscape project, other measures will be implemented for the improvement of signage, visitor information and key vennels adjoining the High Street.

During the streetscape works, temporary traffic measures will be in place affecting High Street, George Street and Church Street. It is envisaged that traffic movements as far as Church Street will be unaffected for much of the time, with traffic entering the High Street being permitted to exit via Church Street, where the direction of travel will be temporarily reversed.

Pedestrian access will be maintained to all shops, during trading hours, for the duration of the project with shops and businesses open for “business as usual”.
The Council is working closely with representatives of the Dingwall community through regular stakeholders’ meetings to discuss practical issues arising while the works are on site. The Stakeholders Group comprises representatives of the Community Council, Dingwall Business Association, Dingwall in Bloom, Dingwall Farmers Market and Ross & Cromarty Disability Access Group. Members of the public are welcome to raise matters with these representatives whose contact details, together with those of the relevant Council officers, are available from Ross House Service Point, where the design plan for the works can also be viewed.

Whilst it is fully recognised that these improvement works will cause a significant degree of inconvenience to properties and businesses within the High Street, all involved are committed to working with the local community in order to minimise the disruption as much as is possible.

Other details relating to the works are as follows: