The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Fresh calls for a ‘private sector champion’
Tourism leaders have made fresh calls for a private sector “champion” to help revitalise Inverness city centre.
They say the money secured by Highland Council through the Inverness City Region Deal should be used as leverage for securing more private investment to help breathe new life back into the streets and shops.
The topic was brought up yesterday during a top level panel discussion on the impacts of recent shifts in the political landscape on the Highland economy.
During the discussion, owner of Jacobite Cruises, Freda Newton MBE, said: “You need someone to take the mantle for the city centre and just do it. If you want it done just find someone to take that torch and run with it.”
After the meeting she added: “I think it’s got to be someone who can galvanise people and has the interests of the city centre at heart. I think it’s better coming from the private sector. It needs to be a ‘private champion’, someone with a ‘can do attitude’.
“I would suggest some property owners within the city centre should think about how they can help regenerate it.”
After the meeting Tom Campbell, managing director of North Coast 500, acknowledged the efforts of Highland Council and politicians in securing money from the city region deal, but stressed: “What I think is important is that the officers of the council and the politicians are not sitting on their laurels having secured the promise of the city deal funding, but that this is a lever to bring more private funding into the city.
“Giving the private sector confidence that the public sector is investing is the key. Leadership in the city at council officer and political level should be replicated to secure that.
“The uncertainty with Brexit just makes the job harder. But leaders have proved they are up to it by securing the city deal in the first place, and I would hope they are up to it.”
Mr Campbell added that the main challenge to get businesses on board will be tackling the issue of multiple ownership, which will require multiple owners of city centre properties to agree on investment decisions.
During the discussion, Highland economist Tony Mackay said that one of the biggest past mistakes was Highlands and Islands Enterprise relocating out of the city.