Inverness West Link Options

An investigation into complaints about the way The Highland Council chose the preferred line for the Inverness West Link has found that the Council  followed the proper process in compliance with national guidance.

Depute Chief Executive Steve Barron was asked by Council Leader Drew Hendry to review issues raised by five members of the public, who complained about the process and decision of the Council in relation to the West Link Options.  Mr Barron’s investigation included meetings with the complainants, a review of previous correspondence provided and additional information submitted by the complainants.  He found the complainants had failed to make the case that the process was flawed or needed to be revisited in any way.

Mr Barron concluded: “Having considered all of the material, I have reached the conclusion that the Council has followed proper process in compliance with national guidance and it reached a unanimous conclusion on the basis of good advice, clearly presented.”

He added:

Council Leader Drew Hendry said: “I would like to thank Mr Barron for his thorough review of the issues raised by the five members of the public, who complained about the process followed in this important matter.    I appreciate that the complainants do not agree with the Council’s preference for option 6 but I am satisfied with the conclusions of Mr Barron’s review and am ready for the Council to proceed with this important project as quickly as possible.”

Inverness West Link will provide a new transport link from the Southern Distributor Road at Dores Road to the A82 trunk road via a fixed link across the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal.

Option 6 follows a sweeping alignment along the river bank from Dores Road Roundabout to cross the River Ness at the Precast Yard/Weir.  Thereafter the link road will follow the toe of the Caledonian Canal embankment to a tandem canal bridge arrangement at Tomnahurich. The estimated cost is £27.2 million.

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