Plans to prepare a new Action Plan for Inverness have been launched by the Highland Council.

The aim of the Action Plan is to identify the most effective ways of improving the environment of the area to make it a place where people want to live, work, socialise and invest.

Residents in Inverness are now being encouraged to share their views on the plan and help shape its future, and to facilitate this, the local authority has arranged for a public exhibition to be held next month.

At the meeting, residents will be able to share their opinions on a number of issues for the Action Plan, including:

• The layout and design of buildings, streets and open spaces

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• The methods of travel to, from and around the City Centre

• The facilities, shops and services on offer

• The availability and quality of space for businesses to grow.

The information that is gathered from the event will assist the Council in identifying the short, medium and long-term actions as well as any potential sources of funding. It will also establish where further work is needed in order to test the viability of potential projects or proposals.

When completed, the Action Plan will be incorporated into a revised Inverness City Centre Development Brief that will be considered by the City of Inverness Area Committee later this year.

Councillor Ian Brown, Leader of the City of Inverness Area, said: "Inverness City Centre is facing many of the challenges that other parts of Scotland and indeed the UK are facing – with one important difference – we are the city in the Highlands and as a result have a very strong and stable base from which to work with.

"We need be positive about the city centre and recognise its strengths. The new Action Plan provides an opportunity to contribute to the future of the city, to make it a more attractive place to live, work, socialise and invest."

(JP/IT)