​​​​​​​Proud Ness Parade Inverness - temporary traffic restrictions

Motorists are being advised of temporary road closures in Inverness tomorrow (Saturday 6 October) between 09:30 and 10:05 for the Proud Ness Parade. The temporary traffic prohibitions will affect all vehicular traffic under the direction of Police.

The temporary closures are in the interests of public safety during the Parade which starts at Falcon Square, heads along Inglis Street and High Street to the Town House, then across Ness Bridge and along the river to Eden Court.

The Council has regarded the safety and convenience of alternative routes suitable for traffic. The road closures are as follows:

• Academy Street, Inverness, closed at its junction with Union Street to its junction with Inglis Street, between 09:30 hours and 09:40 hours.
• Inglis Street, Inverness, closed at its junction with Academy Street to its junction with High Street, between 09:30 hours and 09:40 hours.
• High Street, Inverness, closed at its junction with Eastgate to its junction with Bridge Street, between 09:30 hours and 09:45 hours.
• Bridge Street, Inverness, closed at its junction with High Street to its junction with Castle Road, between 09:30 hours and 09:50 hours.
• Ness Bridge, Inverness, closed at its junction with Bank Street to its junction with Young Street, between 09:30 hours and 09:50 hours.
• Ness Walk, Inverness, closed at its junction with Young Street to its junction with Ardross Terrace, between 09:35 hours and 09:55 hours.
• Ardross Terrace, Inverness, closed at its junction with Ness Walk to its junction with Ardross Street, between 09:35 hours and 09:55 hours.
• Ardross Street, Inverness, closed at its junction with Ardross Terrace to its junction with Alexander Place, between 09:35 hours and 09:55 hours.
• Bishops Road, Inverness, closed at its junction with Ardross Terrace to its junction with Ness Walk Upper, between 09:40 hours and 10:00 hours.
• Bishops Road, Inverness, closed at its junction with Ness Walk Upper to its junction with Bishops Park, between 09:40 hours and 10:05 hours.

The Highland Council will fly the Rainbow Flag at the Town House and Council Headquarters in Inverness on 6 October to show support for the Proud Ness Parade and events taking place on Saturday.

Councillor Bill Lobban, Convenor of the Council said:

“One of the Council’s goals is to promote fairness and welcome diversity and I am delighted to agree to fly the Rainbow Flag at both the Town House in Inverness and at Council HQ to show support for the Proud Ness event on 6 October.”

The Pride event has been organised by the Highland LGBT Forum whose aims are to raise awareness of LGBTI+ issues, to reduce isolation amongst LGBTI+ people in Highland, and to encourage inclusion and diversity.

Following the Proud Ness march from Falcon Square to Eden Court, there is a full day of stands and activities at the theatre. Members of the LGBTI+ sub-group of the Council’s Care and Learning Equalities Improvement Group will also be leading a workshop to share their work in LGBTI+ education and inclusion. This will include young people from Highland schools and local partners hosting roundtable conversations on different aspects of LGBTI+ inclusion and education, a reading from Highland teacher and author, and a session led by the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign who are promoting LGBTI+ inclusion in education establishments across Scotland.

Cllr Lobban added: “It is especially important that young LGBTI+ people are able to find support when they need it and that schools can tackle and respond to homophobic and transphobic bullying. The Proud Ness event gives us an opportunity to show that Highland is an inclusive and welcoming place to live.”

Principal Policy Officer for Equality, Rosemary Mackinnon addded that: “Staff from Highland Council will also be at a stand at Eden Court throughout the day. We know that a number of staff from the Council will be attending and they are welcome to walk together on the parade through the city centre under a banner supporting the Council’s commitment to promote fairness and welcome diversity.  Any Council staff who would like to join us under the Council banner are invited to meet in Falcon Square at 9.15am on Saturday in front of the Scotland shop (previously Monsoon) under the clock.”