Inverness

The Longman

Mostly reclaimed land which has been given over to thinly-disguised drive-in retail, and a potentially spectacular waterfront, where leisure facilities and parkland could have complemented the football stadium, instead populated by builders' suppliers and kitchen warehouses.

DM

What a ridiculous nomination.Inverness is a lovely city to live in and to enjoy.It has one or two sxties developments which let it down but this was a sympton of the sixties which can be seen in almost every city.If this anonymous proposer had any concience he would withdraw his nomination.

gordon

I wish to propose you consider the PFI schools foisted on the unsuspecting population of the Inverness area by Highland Council. In particular, the Inshes Primary School stands out as one of the worst examples. Its siting, massing and lack of any attempt at concealment with landscaping is unforgivable and insensitive. Added to these faults is the use of "loud" primary colour, which shouts out to all and sundry like neon signage in "gasoline alley" in commercial parts of the city. It is very hard to imagine any architect worthy of the title allowing their name to be associated with such crass buildings - their forefathers must be turning in their graves with shame at the direction those worthy practices have taken in recent years.

Andrew M James

I admire Cllr Graham for coming to the defence of Inverness. But I fear he misses the point. The attractions he cites are precisely those areas of the city that the planners and developers have so far left untouched - although the edge-of-town retail development strategy is gradually killing the attractive Victorian city centre (note to Council: streetscape doesn't solve problem of empty shop-premises). And Cllr Graham deludes himself if he thinks that population-growth and visitor-numbers are an indicator of architectural merit. The growth is driven by the availability of cheap housing and in-migration from the rural hinterland and the more expensive South. And visitors aren't attracted by the vista of the Longman estate, the industrial sheds by the marina, or the acres of anonymous housing stretching up the hillsides to south and east of the city.

Archie Tect

Unfortunately, Inverness has become an urban blight. once it had potential but the greed of builders and planners (is that an oxymoron?) for the almighty pound and with no thought or care at all to the future has already ruined it. In the last 15 years the beauty of the city and the countryside has become just a blemish with homes that look like bunkers! I now tell friends visiting Scotland to avoid Inverness and head for the country which I believe will be ruined in another 15 years if developers have anything to say about it.

Doris

Parkland doesn't bring profit to a city to allow it to create facilities does it. There's nothing wrong with the Longman...maybe a little dated, but every city has that trouble. Perhaps you should look up some of the other spectacular walks and park areas in and around town?

A Council Defender

Cllr Graham you mention landmarks that have been there since the 19 oatcake. I propose that you look towards the future and not the past .What plans do the council have for redevelopment of the riverside area or marina or for that matter any area of Inverness . I would Imagine little will happen without Tescos or Tullochs its a disgrace and you know it and should hang your head in shame along with the majority of brown enevelope investors you share your bed with in Inverness .Invest in the future not keep an eye on the past. Elected by your community I do admire you coming on here and making a stand for the town.

JOE

The longman has always been an industrial estate, and you don't need to go through it to get to the stadium. There is much worse than this - idiotic nomination.

Paul James

An anonymous nomination which relates to a typical industrial estate, and uses that to attempt to besmirch the image of one of Britain's most attractive cities. No one lives in the Longman Industrial Estate and nor is it on the tourist trail for visitors to Inverness. Inverness is the destination for thousands of visitors each year, who enjoy the city's many features - the River Ness, the Castle, Ness Islands, and the Old Town among others. Culloden Battlefield and Urquhart are close at hand, with beautiful scenery all around the City. Even in a recession Inverness continues to grow, proof of its reputation as a great place to live and work.

Cllr Alex Graham, Deputy Provost, City of Inverness

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