Public asked for views on new District Park at Inshes

The public are being given the chance to view and have their say on plans for the largest planned public park in Inverness since the Victorian era.

Proposals for the first phase of Inshes District Park, adjacent to Inshes Primary School, will be on show at Hilton Community Centre between 2 - 5 pm on Thursday 23 September. A meeting of Inverness City Forum is being held that night at Inshes Primary School, starting at 7.30 p.m.

It is proposed to develop the district park in three phases with the first phase occupying fairly level ground behind Inshes Primary school between the Southern Distributor Road and Stevenson Road. A total of £620,000 is available to develop phase 1. This funding comprises £420,000 from developer contributions and £200,000 from the Landfill Communities Fund.

Inverness City Forum is open to all members of the public, who have the opportunity to ask questions. The meeting will be chaired by Provost Jimmy Gray, chairman of The Highland Council's Inverness City Committee, who will be joined by the four Councillors for the ward - Jim Crawford, John Holden, Roy Pedersen and Thomas Prag - and representatives of local Community Councils.

Councillor Gray said: "The Council is committed to developing high quality amenity areas that local communities can enjoy and benefit from. We recognise that leisure and recreation is an important aspect in people's lives. The development of the District Park at Inshes will complement our other parks, such as at Bellfield Park and Whin Park, and create green open space where families can enjoy their natural environment."

He said the District Park at Inshes was an important project from the City of Inverness Greenspace Strategy. It would preserve a valuable green wedge in Inverness South as well as provide useable amenity greenspace for local people.

He added: "This 80-acre park will be a major addition to the city's green spaces and one where families can enjoy a tranquil rural retreat that will retain the native landscape with its natural features of a Highland hillside - all set amidst a vibrant, modern, urban environment."

Situated beside Inshes Primary School, the Provost sees significant benefits for the pupils in terms of environmental education.

The City Forum is an opportunity for the public to meet their Councillors and Community Councillors to ask questions about what is going on in the city Wards.