Alex Graham’s website

Ward Forum date change

The date of the Inverness West Ward Forum to discuss the Caledonian Canal Bridges opening times (governed by a protocol between British waterways Scotland and Highland Council) has been changed to Thursday 25th September. This is due to industrial action planned by local authority staff on the previous date.The Forum will be held in Charleston Academy Assembly Hall, with doors opening at 7.00 pm.  Faber Maunsell, transport consulting engineers, are preparing a micro-simulation model of the road traffic and the boat traffic at both Muirtown and Torvean bridges, and this will be presented to the Ward Forum as an initial public consultation. A later ward Forum will consider the “best case” protocol developed as a result of the simulation exercise.Inverness City Committee will also discuss the subject at its forthcoming meeting on Monday 15th September.POSTED: 11 September 2008

Bught Drive Planning Application

23 July 2008: Cairn Housing have been granted planning permission for 4 flats on Bught Drive on the area currently occupied by some lockup garages near to the junction with Glenurquhart Road. The Housing and Social Work Committee agreed the sale of this site, which is quite small at 0.1 hectare = one-quarter acre, along with a larger site at Cauldeen Road in the Hilton area. The total price has been agreed at £286,000, indicating that the Bught Road site was valued at about £90,000. Cairn are understood to be planning to carry out the building work in 2009, as there are still issues to conclude with funding and the contract has still to go out to tender.POSTED: 19 August 2008

Westies Quiz Success!

Inverness West ward team (the “Westies”) come in a close second out of 19 in the Highland Council Charity Quiz held on Friday 13th June. Captained by Cllr Alex Graham, the team comprised Stewart Wardlaw (Ward Manager) and two top quality substitutes. Andrew from Chief Executive’s unit and Dominic from Roads Dept stood in for councillors Jimmy Macdonald and Pauline Munro, both of whom were unable to attend. After running well throughout the six round contest, the Westies were edged out of the top spot by a Finance team by just one point.The Quiz raised in excess of £550 for the Highland Hospice, and it is hoped to make it a regular event.POSTED: 16 June 2008

Assynt Road planning application

Ref Number: 08/00280/FULINApplication Type: Full ApplicationValidation Date: 08/04/2008Grid Reference: 264887 844787Description of Works:Erect ten flatsLocation of Works:Land South Of Assynt Road Hostel, Assynt Road, Inverness,Community Council: Muirtown Community CouncilApplicant Name: Baptist Union Of ScotlandApplicant Address: 14 Aytown Road, Glasgow, G41 5RTCase Officer: Keith Gibson (01463) 720602 keith.gibson@highland.gov.ukPOSTED: 23 MAY 2008

Ward Manager appointed

The new Ward Manager for Inverness West is Stewart Wardlaw, who takes up his duties on Monday 2nd June. He also covers Ness Side Ward (Ward 16) and succeeds Karen Hamilton, who was in the post until 28 th February.POSTED: 16 MAY 2008

Charleston Gala

After missing a year in 2007, the Charleston Gala Fun Day will be held on Saturday 7th June from 12 - 4 pm. More details shortly.POSTED: 14 MAY 2008

Ward Forum no 4

The fourth Inverness West Ward Forum was held on Thursday 8th May, in the Bught Sports Centre. The theme was local roads and buses, and approx 15 members of the public were present. Also in attendance were the Convenor, Vice-convenor and Chief Executive of the Highland Council, who are in the process of attending the forums in all 22 wards. Presentations were made by Roads Department staff of the work being done on traffic in the city centre and representatives of the Police and of Stagecoach also addressed the meeting.POSTED: 9 MAY 2008