Scottish Labour’s Candidate for Inverness Central, Dr Michael Gregson, has said that, in a growing city like Inverness, access to green and open spaces is vitally important for people’s quality of life.
Michael Gregson said:
“As the scale and pace of life in the city grows, and urban sprawl takes hold, we need to take extra care over our green spaces.
“People need access to green and open spaces.
“Sometimes ‘green corridors’, sometimes networks in which varied vegetation and species are allowed to flourish.
“These are important for our mental health as well as helping with air pollution.
“This can be done by aiming for the highest standards in stimulating play parks, as at Bellfield Park, the remodelled Torvean, and – I hope – the eventual Whin Park refurbishment.
“But there are, sadly, other more neglected sites which I want to take up with the Council, if elected.
“Play and leisure facilities are so important in children’s development, be it physical, emotional, social, creative, or in terms of communication skills.
“Report after report confirms the value of play as part of the educational process – and physical activity is all the more important nowadays when many children spend much of their time online.
“But it isn’t only through play facilities that communities benefit.
“Just keeping open space – even small oases of green – really matters, as in Hawthorn Drive, at Carnarc Point and the Merkinch Local Nature Reserve – as well as the important Fraser Park, Walker Park and Milton Pitches.
“The quality of life in a city depends on good leisure infrastructure, sustainable traffic and transport, and people having access to the goods and services they want.
“As Inverness grows, we need to look after the quality of people’s lives.”
