I saw a tweet a few weeks ago from local newspaper the Inverness Courier promoting their ongoing campaign to generate discussion about improving Inverness city centre.
Tell us what you want to see in Inverness city centre #reinventinverness pic.twitter.com/mAnS2LOynJ
— Inverness Courier (@InvCourier) April 7, 2017
Having a few strong views about the city in which I live, and having a few minutes to kill as I read the tweet, I fired off a pile of responses. Some were slightly less serious than others. Many were also, I confess, not new thoughts to me, as I’d mentioned a few of these ideas in a rant on this very blog about Inverness a couple of years back.
@InvCourier cycle paths throughout; car-free if that's what it takes. More greenery. Lower shop rents to boost indy biz. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier replace Bridge Street upper level with park, seating, art. Lunchtime hangout, draw folk better to castle. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier a distillery and a brewery. The fact Inverness has neither given Highland brand is ridiculous. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier better use of the Victorian Market. Should be home to bars, restaurants etc and open late. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier more Gaelic. Been in Ireland lots. Irish language signs (even if folk don't speak it) is distinctive. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier the return of the Pork, Cheese and Pie shop. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier a park, walkway etc over station. Get through pedestrian traffic out of station who don't need to be there! #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier a ring of park & rides and free buses. Get folk out of their cars! #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier We have a fab river yet few places to enjoy it. Pedestrianise and rezone Douglas Row for food/drink/shops. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier the cafe back at Leakey's. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
@InvCourier decent museums and attractions. Inverness is a great base for region but poor as destination in itself. #reinventinverness
— Simon Varwell (@simonvarwell) April 7, 2017
Whether to appease me or shut me up, the Courier got in touch to ask if they could do an interview with me to expand on my thoughts. Drawing on my tweets and that earlier blog post, plus chucking in a few new ideas based on my travels around the world, I was able to give as best a sense I could of what Inverness city centre needed.
The interview was published in today’s Courier. You can read it online.
And yes, I was serious about the tram thing.
