Residents in the Ballifeary area of Inverness have launched a petition to stop a riverside road becoming a one-way ‘rat run’ and instead look strategically at how to manage traffic and parking in their district.
A report on the Riverside Way project will be discussed by city councillors tomorrow.
A key proposal is turning Ness Walk to Bught Park into a one-way street south.
Residents say drivers wanting to go to the city centre along the riverside in the opposite direction will choose the quickest alternative, turning right up the already congested Ballifeary Lane, along Ballifeary Road to join Bishop’s Road.
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In the change.org petition they say the amount of drivers affected is likely to be considerable, including local residents and commuters and visitors to various city centre destinations.
The petition goes on: “We question the need for the proposal in the first place as we believe it is ‘solving’ a problem which does not actually exist
“Yes, we need traffic management during large events at the Bught but making the riverside one-way permanently is not needed to achieve this.”
Inverness West councillor Bill Boyd said: “My phone is ringing constantly from Ballifeary Community Council incensed about inadequate, incomplete consultation.
“Some of the ideas presented in the report will make active travel less attractive and less safe. The introduction of one-way will increase speed and through traffic.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The report will be discussed on Thursday as part of the City of Inverness Area Committee. In the report is a large amount of supporting information that is being presented to the committee to assist them with their consideration of the report recommendations. ”
The new report has revealed one-way traffic along Ness Walk, 20mph speed limits and new traffic management orders for big events in a bid to make the city’s river more “accessible”.
It covers area between the river and Glenurquhart Road, Tomnahurich Street and Young Street out to the West Link, and sets out to ‘make the area more accessible, more of a destination, with enhanced pedestrian and cycle connections.’