THE Architects Department's final plans for the rolling programme of refurbishments to the much-neglected Maclennan Crescent will be presented to a meeting of tenants on the 31st January. So a deeply disappointed Alex Macleod of the Maclennan Crescent Residents Association was assured at Merkinch Community Council at its January meeting.

Mr Macleod said that after years of neglect and degradation he did not expect the upgrading work to be done overnight. But they had been drawing up plans for 20 months or more and appeared to be getting nowhere. “No matter how much you try to avoid taking a confrontational stance, it is becoming unavoidable because of the intransigence of officials,” he said, adding that he laid no blame on Councillor Peter Corbett who had been very supportive.

Mr Corbett said, “You know I feel as strongly as anyone about Maclennan Crescent, which has been dubbed the worst street in Inverness. But it was agreed we'd wait until the architects came up with a programme. In the meantime, we've not been letting the houses that became empty, so that work can be done.”

In the course of the discussion, Mr Macleod was critical of the attitude of some council staff: Mr Corbett said it was a good policy, in all council dealings, always to ask the name of the person to whom you were speaking.

• A sub-committee of the Community Council is being formed to deal with planning applications. It will consist of office-bearers plus Donnie Kerr who has a special interest in planning matters.
• A meeting was to be held on 23rd January to consider setting up a Residents Association for the Ord Terrace area, Mr Corbett told the community council. He said that such a group might in due course link in with the Benula Road/ Kilmuir Court group.
• Brian Cain (South Kessock Residents Association) reported that SKRA was up and running successfully. All the quotes for the internal reconstruction in the Community House at Craigton Avenue were to be in for the 22nd, so he assumed they would be required to vacate the building in early February.
• Dell McClurg reported that the Dolphin Project was closed for the winter, but the Scottish Wildlife Trust was showing an interest in the wetlands.
• Community Police Officer Dominic Sermanni reported that they were continuing to police abandoned cars. As it could cost people £20 to £30 to have cars removed, this was likely to be an ongoing problem, but they were getting good results from weekly visits.
• With regard to antisocial neighbours, he said there were a lot of people living with considerable stress. “We do what we can in relation to the law and human rights,” he said. Mr Macleod asked for it to be minuted that there was a marked improvement in the policing of the area. It was agreed to ask a senior police officer to their meetings sometimes.
• Mr Kerr reported that the work being done in the kickabout area was not what had been requested. He also wondered if a litter bin could be put in the Grant Street car park.
• This was the first meeting since the elections, and chairman Ali MacLean asked that the sterling work done by previous chairman Dell McClurg be minuted.
• The community council's February meeting is at Merkinch Community Centre on Wednesday 14th at 7.30pm.