Station Square in Inverness is off limits to large vehicles
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A COMPROMISE appears to have been reached after concerns were raised about a ban on large vehicles going into Station Square in Inverness.
Inverness councillors agreed on Thursday to a new traffic order stopping vehicles more than 3.5 tonnes turning left from Academy Street into the square in front of the Royal Highland Hotel.
Highland Council enforcement officers said there had been instances where large vehicles, such as buses and coaches, had been seen reversing from the square into traffic on Academy Street.
But those opposing the ban included the hotel which said it would impact on guests arriving by coach.
Concerns were also voiced by community groups which use minibuses to drop off elderly and vulnerable people attending social events.
Speaking after the meeting, Indranil Banerjee, general manager at the Royal Highland Hotel, said it had been agreed coaches would be able to stop at certain times outside the Rohan shop in Academy Street to drop off and pick up guests.
He said the main concerns had been that guests and their luggage would be dropped too far away from the hotel.
But he said there was no issue if coaches were allowed to drop off guests just outside the square.
In its objections, the hotel had warned the jobs of between 80 and 100 staff would be at risk if existing trade and standards could not be maintained.
“We still feel Station Square was not a problem,” Mr Bannerjee told the Courier. “I am sure there will be one or two errant drivers and they should be hauled up.
“But you don’t stop traffic on the A9 because one or two drivers are flouting the rules.
“We challenged the proposed ban but it was not accepted, and we accept the decision of the council committee.”
Council officers originally wanted to impose a limit of three tonnes for vehicles going into the square but agreed to raise it after an objection on behalf of an over 60s lunch group run on behalf of Caring and Sharing Highland.
Organiser Liz Syred feared the new regulation would mean people would not be able to attend.
Outlining her objections ahead of the meeting, she wrote: “I cannot believe Highland Council, who I believe supported the NHS campaign fighting to stop isolation and loneliness in Highland can really want to stop these people coming together with others, having lunch and time out in the community.
“The meal they get at the lunch club, for some, is a major highlight in their lives.”
Tour operators, including one from Sweden, also objected.
