Judge overturns city centre redesign decision

Highland Council wants to reduce car traffic on Academy Street

A senior judge has overturned a decision to redesign part of Inverness city centre after the plans were challenged by the owners of the Highland's biggest shopping centre.

Highland Council has proposed a revamp of Academy Street, including restricting cars from using the street.

But in a legal challenge brought to the Court of Session, trustees of the owners of Eastgate Shopping Centre argued that a proper consultation was not held on the plans and the impact on businesses had not been considered.

Highland Council said it was disappointed by Lord Sandison's decision and hoped to provide an update on the redesign next week.

Councillors voted in September to push ahead with plans to redesign Academy Street - of one of Inverness' busiest.

Highland Council wants to make it more pedestrian and cyclist friendly.

Traffic would be restricted to buses, delivery vehicles and drivers with disabilities and health conditions.

But some businesses have said that while improvements were needed, the impact of the current plans had not been thoroughly consulted on.

Trustees of Eastgate Shopping Centre challenged councillors' decision

In a written judgement published by the court, Lord Sandison upheld the submissions made to him by the Eastgate Centre’s legal team.

The judge absolved the council of "any subjective intention" to run an unfair consultation exercise.

He said it may only have been with the benefit of hindsight that it was possible to see where and how it went "awry".

Inverness city leader Ian Brown said he was disappointed by the outcome of the judicial review.

He said: "Due to the length of Lord Sandison’s judgement the council will require time to consider the decision in detail before we are able to comment further on this matter.

"It is anticipated that an update of the council’s position in relation to Academy Street will be provided next week following a comprehensive review of the judgement and the options available to the council."