Month: June 2021

Provost Helen Carmichael said the Gathering Place would an ‘amphitheatre’ bringing joy. Now she’s being urged to explain why the joyful amphitheatre is still a rubble strewn riverside building site

by Colin Campbell TWO of the most active campaigners against the riverside Gathering Place have criticised the latest council debacle in getting it built. And Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael, one of its most ardent supporters, has been called on to explain why a project that was supposed to be completed “by early summer” now looks like it might not be finished for months. Yesterday we … Continue reading Provost Helen Carmichael said the Gathering Place would an ‘amphitheatre’ bringing joy. Now she’s being urged to explain why the joyful amphitheatre is still a rubble strewn riverside building site

colcam56Leave a comment

Council said Gathering Place would be completed by ‘early summer’. How did they get it so wrong, and are costs set to soar?

by Colin Campbell WHEN Highland Council announced on April 1 that construction work was about to start on the riverside Gathering Place they said in a statement: “The Gathering Place is set to take on an even more poignant and significant meaning when it is completed in Inverness in early summer, as it coincides with the easing of lockdown and people being able to come … Continue reading Council said Gathering Place would be completed by ‘early summer’. How did they get it so wrong, and are costs set to soar?

colcam56Leave a comment

August should see a return to normality at Inverness Leisure Centre

by Colin Campbell DURING the usual entry and exit rush from the Inverness Leisure Centre a fairly senior member of staff recently told me he anticipated “big changes by August”. This was in response to my query as to when customers might expect the venue to return to something approaching normality, which it is still far removed from as of now. I don’t know whether … Continue reading August should see a return to normality at Inverness Leisure Centre

colcam56Leave a comment

Migrants’ form filling ordeal a disgrace, says Hendry, as he grubs around for indy support

by Colin Campbell THE latest indignity, or cruel abomination, being heaped on EU migrants living here is the requirement that they should apply for settled status in the UK. That’s the unsurprising view of Inverness MP Drew Hendry, who brands their form-filling ordeal “a national disgrace”. Hendry never misses a chance to depict migrants living here as victims of a callous and vindictive UK government … Continue reading Migrants’ form filling ordeal a disgrace, says Hendry, as he grubs around for indy support

colcam56Leave a comment

Another wave of pupils leaves Inverness Central, after school’s remarkable 200 years

by Colin Campbell AFTER seven happy years at Inverness Central Primary School, one of my offspring left on Friday for the last time. As bright as they come, in my biased opinion at any rate, she thoroughly enjoyed her time there, appreciated and in one or two cases adored the teachers there, and never had a single bad word to say about it. I told … Continue reading Another wave of pupils leaves Inverness Central, after school’s remarkable 200 years

colcam56Leave a comment

Riverside beauty spot travesty: So it’s just a wall, after all

Shaping up…. the soon to be ‘unique’ Gathering Place wall. by Colin Campbell A STRETCH of Gathering Place wall has now been built on a former natural beauty spot on the Inverness riverside adjacent to the Ness islands. One of the most controversial if not the most controversial construction project in Inverness civic history is due to be finished by early summer, according to the … Continue reading Riverside beauty spot travesty: So it’s just a wall, after all

colcam561 Comment

Inexplicably, police were alerted to Chinese tourists paddling in the Ness. The message to them, as to all our welcome guests – enjoy!

by Colin Campbell With overseas travel virtually off limits, the “staycation” surge of visitors to the Highlands is now well underway, with estimates that more than two million visitors will arrive in the region over the summer months and beyond. This mass influx is causing problems in some areas, most notably along the NC500 route which has become a victim of its own global marketing … Continue reading Inexplicably, police were alerted to Chinese tourists paddling in the Ness. The message to them, as to all our welcome guests – enjoy!

colcam56Leave a comment

Football fans enjoy a night of raucous celebration in buoyant city centre

by Colin Campbell INVERNESS city centre had its most raucous Friday night in a very long time as football fans celebrated Scotland’s hugely creditable and stirring draw with England at Wembley with gusto. Singing and chanting echoed across the river after a result which means Scotland will qualify for the next stage of the Euros if they beat Croatia at Hampden on Tuesday night. Raucousness … Continue reading Football fans enjoy a night of raucous celebration in buoyant city centre

colcam56Leave a comment

Work on the Gathering Place forges ahead while the Infirmary Bridge is closed indefinitely

by Colin Campbell WORK was in full swing on the Inverness riverside, with hard hats and hi-viz gear prominent at two locations. At the site for the Gathering Place adjacent to the Ness islands, workmen were pursuing the council plan to “develop” the churned up former natural beauty spot with a wall and concrete pathways with vigour. Two hundred yards upriver on the Infirmary Bridge … Continue reading Work on the Gathering Place forges ahead while the Infirmary Bridge is closed indefinitely

colcam56Leave a comment

Blackford turns joker now the referendum pressure is off

by Colin Campbell BLUSTERING Ian Blackford had a go at making a joke at PMQs in the House of Commons yesterday. Wishing both Scotland and England well in Friday night’s European Championship match at Wembley, and grinning broadly, he said: “I do hope we don’t see Scotland being dragged out of the Euros against our wishes.” There was an audible ripple of laughter. Maybe it … Continue reading Blackford turns joker now the referendum pressure is off

colcam56Leave a comment