Council Director to lead Inverness Task Force on city centre future

Top priorities identified include the need for a major visitor attraction, the revamp of Academy Street and better linkages to, from and between the rail and bus station.

Mr Black chairs the Task Force and he intends to meet key business and community groups over the coming weeks to progress priority projects for the city centre.

The Task Force has already secured investment into Academy Street and plans to ensure further funding follows.

Mr Black said: "Having been brought up in Inverness and worked on its development for approaching two decades I am relishing this opportunity. There’s lots to be proud of about our city.  With this renewed focus on regeneration, there are  significant grounds for optimism about the future of Inverness.”

Councillor Drew Hendry, Council Leader, said: “As Director of the new council service which brings together planning, economic development and the council's investment in roads and public realm, Mr Black is ideally placed to drive forward improvements in the city centre to regenerate the city centre.”
The Council organised an exhibition at the Town House today (Thursday) at which the public had the chance to identify the top priorities for the future of the city centre, including making comment on:-

• the layout and design of buildings, streets and open spaces;
• methods of travel to, from and around the City Centre;
• the facilities, shops and services on offer;
• the availability and quality of space for businesses to grow.

ENDS