The Highland Council has welcomed progress on preparations being made for two projects in the region.

Together the City Region Deals total £3 million.

The council will invest £2 million into public works around Inverness Castle and £1 million in developing an Inverness public Wi-Fi project.

The Inverness Castle developments include:

• Creating a viewing platform on the North Tower of Inverness Castle for locals and visitors with an entrance area, shop and interpretation on lower floors.

• Upgrading Inverness Castle's grounds. These works will include upgrading paths, the road in front of the Castle, railings, benches and stabilising the Castle banks.

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• Works to improve the approach leading to Inverness Castle on Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and Castle Wynd toilets, including re-cladding the north and east sides of the Museum and Art gallery building along with re-cladding and re-roofing the Castle Wynd Toilet building.

• An extension of Church Street City Centre streetscape improvement works onto Bridge Street and Castle Wynd, connecting with the streetscape works on Bank Street.

The council will invite tenders for works in June and aims to open the North Tower Viewing Platform by April 2016.

Works are scheduled to be completed by Spring 2016.

A project board will be established and the council will procure consultants to consider different methods of delivering public Wi-Fi access in Inverness.

Councillor Ian Brown said: "As the Castle Tower development provides a new attraction that meets the needs of visitors wanting to experience this iconic location, the Wi-Fi project will improve connectivity for visitors planning their experiences in the City and onwards throughout the Highland region."

(LM)