Castle Wynd streetscape improvement works.

Taxi rank to close on Wynd from 6 Jan.

Streetscape improvement works are to commence on Monday 6th January 2020 at Castle Wynd, Inverness.

Contractors, Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd have been appointed the £373,515 project on an estimated 16-week contract which aims to be completed by the end of April 2020 – weather dependent.

Following completion of the works, pedestrians will benefit from an increase in walkways and upgrade of the steps to Inverness Castle and the footsteps leading to the River Ness behind upper Bridge Street will also be improved.

To allow these works to take place, the taxi rank at Castle Wynd will be closed from 6 January 2020 onwards. Full time taxi rank space has been maintained on the south side of Bridge Street.  

Members of the City of Inverness Area City have agreed to the removal of the taxi rank arrangements at the Wynd. The works start date of 6th January has been selected to allow for adequate notice to be given to the public and for the rank to be used through the festive period.

The works will include road and footway reconstruction using granite setts and kerbs, and Caithness flagstones.  New granite steps will be installed on the Castle approach and steps, along with new pedestrian handrails. The former toilet block will be rendered, and its existing signage replaced.

All of Castle Wynd (the U3831) will be affected from the junction with Bridge Street (B861). The Castle Steps and the Castle approach are also affected.  Castle Wynd will be closed to all vehicles except for access to Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, car parks and for refuse collection.

Pedestrian access will be maintained to Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.

The proposals for the removal of the taxi rank at Castle Wynd were agreed through the City of Inverness Area Committee after several meetings with Taxi trade representatives at which all options were discussed. The proposal to close Castle Wynd taxi tank was considered by the City of Inverness Area Committee in May 2018 and was then deferred for further consideration and then agreed to be closed at the City Committee meeting held in November 2018.

The streetscape works at Castle Wynd are being funded by The Highland city-region deal which is a joint initiative supported by up to £315M investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highland and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.