The impact of the multi-million pound city region deal outwith Inverness has been questioned by some councillors.
Members of Highland Council discussed the £315million package yesterday – with the authority’s leader Margaret Davidson saying that it had already “hugely improved the status of the Highlands”.
The deal was finally confirmed in March and major projects include creating a tourist attraction at Inverness Castle, building new link roads around the city, improvements in digital connectivity and building thousands of new houses.
The deal received a cross-party welcome in the chamber yesterday – although some were less enthusiastic.
Councillor Andrew Baxter, Fort William, said he initially felt the deal was “fantastic” but already had misgivings.
He said: “I think you (Mrs Davidson) will understand the scepticism in places like Lochaber but I’m sure it is shared by colleagues from across the Highlands about what this actually means for them annd whether it goes much further.
“I find it difficult when I actually look at some of the details. For example there is not one road project outside the Inverness area.”
Lochaber councillor Brian Murphy referred to the A9/A96 “East Link” road announced in the plans and said the deal was full of “recycled announcements”.
He said there was “a lot of suspicion” in rural areas that they “will not get a lot from this”.
Mrs Davidson said: “What we’ve got is the next ten years and an opportunity to meet the biggest challenge we have in the Highlands which is losing our young people over time.
“Young people have told us crystal clear that they want a decent job, they want a house and they want good broadband and mobile connectivity.
“This city deal helps us get towards that.”
Highland Council’s director of planning and development Stuart Black said that projects such as the East Link had previously been announced but were not guaranteed funding before the City Deal was confirmed.
He said: “Fundamentally it is about speeding up the rate of economic growth in the Highlands, to boost them higher and improve business competitiveness in the region.
“There is a bit of a misconception that it’s an additional fund like the European funds that you can bid into.
“That’s not the case – things that are in the heads of terms agreement are the things we have to take into the deal.”
