Row brewing over new Inverness coach park

A TEMPORARY coach park near Inverness city centre could attract opposition from a leading clergyman if it is to become a permanent feature.

Yesterday city councillors agreed to proposals for pay-and-display parking outside the Northern Meeting Park in Ardross Street to become bays for up to eight coaches.

Its usage will be assessed during the summer to see if it could become long-term in a bid to attract more tourists to the Highland capital.

But the Very Reverend Canon Alexander Gordon, provost of St Andrew’s Cathedral, next to the meeting park, harbours several concerns, including the potential impact on his congregation.

“We have private parking in the area of the cathedral and provided access is not impeded I wouldn’t see that as a problem,” he said.

“But Sundays are different because people do park in Ardross Street. If that became difficult because of these arrangements then we would not be very happy.”

Mr Gordon, who lives in Ardross Street, also fears for the safety of other road users due to the size of the coaches and believes it would increase pollution in the area.

“I would certainly be opposed to any long-term change,” he added.

The bays replace those in Union Street, Church Street and Huntly Street, which are no longer available due to ongoing works linked to the River Ness flood alleviation scheme.

The change will only be operational between 10am and 5pm, with no parking restrictions in the area outside this period.

Richard Paxton, chairman of Park Community Council, which represents a number of bed-and-breakfasts, hotels and guesthouses near the street, thought parking for visitors arriving by car was a wider problem.

He insisted the timeframe should be strictly enforced.

The committee approved the plan despite Inverness Central councillor Donnie Kerr informing colleagues that some bed-and-breakfast owners were unhappy about the proposed change.

The move is designed to avoid coaches parking elsewhere in the vicinity of the city centre, including Ness Bank.

Neil Young, the local authority’s transport officer, told city councillors in a report that Inverness was seen as a hub for tourists.

“By improving the city’s status as a place to visit we will attract more coach operators to the Highland capital and also bring significant benefit to adjacent attractions such as Loch Ness and Culloden.

“The publicity of the city achieving coach-friendly status will also help the wider Highland economy.”

The pay-and-display system was introduced to the popular previous free parking zone in mid-October, limiting motorists to two-hour stays.

It followed a council survey by transport officials which revealed very few spaces were available even at 7am, with low turnover during the working day.

“Since the introduction of parking charges on Ardross Street there has been a significant reduction in the numbers of parked cars,” Mr Young added.