CONNECTIVITY ISSUES FOR INVERNESS

Stuart Black Director of Planning & Development

SCKC SEMINAR 28 FEBRUARY 2014

Outline

© The Scotsman

© HIAL

• Policy Framework • Active Travel • Public Transport • Strategic Links • Airlinks

AIR • Access to London Hub

airports – Gatwick/Heathrow

• Inverness to international hubs

• Twice daily to Schipol • Flybe to Geneva • Charter flights

© Highlands & Islands Airport Ltd

Policy Framework • Scottish Government – Seven Cities Alliance • Highland Council Green Transport Strategy • Inverness City Vision • HITRANS – City Active Travel Masterplan • Carbon Clever – Inverness carbon neutral by 2020 • Inverness Moray Firth Local Plan

Active Travel • Inverness Campus – UHI • Millburn Road cycle

route • Carbon Clever &

electric bike hire • New walking / cycle

map • Cycle parking in city

centre

Carbon CLEVER

• Carbon emission reduction • Lead by example • Engagement with others • Value for money • Economic benefits • Raise awareness and promote behaviour

change

Inverness Cycling City

Compact City with relatively high levels of cycling Usual Method of Travel to work – cycling (Census, 2011):

• Inverness datazone – 4.7%

• Highland – 2.4%

• Scotland – 1.3%

Public Transport £2.7 million Bus Investment Fund:

• Intelligent bus priority

• Real-time passenger information

• WiFi on vehicles and busiest stops

• Bus fleet among youngest in

Scotland

• Quality Partnership

Strategic Links • Trunk Road Network • Highland Mainline

(Inverness – Perth) • Inverness – Aberdeen • Inverness Kyle / Thurso

Airlinks

• Importance of Hub Connectivity

• Building on Inverness

• Links to other major urban centres in UK

DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY Scotland’s Digital Future • Development of digital skills • Educational use of digital

technology • Public sector efficiency • Closure of the digital divide • Scottish public sector

standards

DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY Scottish Government’s Infrastructure Action Plan: • Step Change • World Class 2020 • Demonstrating Digital • Choose Digital First

BROADBAND Current Situation • HIE Next Generation

Broadband Project • Potential follow-on

project to reach remaining areas

• Community Broadband Scotland

• IT Business and Community Engagement

© Highlands & Islands Enterprise

Conclusion • Connectivity at the

heart of sustainable economic growth of the region

• Physical and virtual connectivity

• Short, Medium and Long term priorities

• Funding challenges and opportunities