Dingwall forum probes bridge - and vikings!

Emergency work to the bridge is to come under the spotlight

ANTICIPATED chaos on a key link between Ross-shire and Inverness will come under the spotlight at two ward forums next week.

Highland Council's Dingwall and Seaforth and Black Isle ward forums take place on June 8 and 9 respectively - and with the announcement this week of the proposed emergency works on the Kessock Bridge, both are allocating a slot at the beginning of the meeting to discuss the issue.

Attending both will be Cathel MacAskill, customer services manager with Scotland Transerv, who will give a briefing and take questions.

The Dingwall and Seaforth Ward Forum will be held in St Clement’s Church Hall on June 8 at 7pm. It will also focus on Dingwall’s Norse heritage and the benefits of involvement in a European Northern Periphery Partnership Project, the "Thing Project".

Margaret Paterson: 'Exciting'

The meeting will be chaired by Cllr Margaret Paterson who said, "The Thing Project has created exciting links for Dingwall with Norway, the Faeroe Islands, Iceland, Shetland, Orkney and the Isle of Man.

"It has also been the catalyst for a number of side projects including an archaeological survey of the area around the Cromartie car park in September." It is thought to the site of the local Viking parliament.

Proposals have been outlined for conversion of the old toilet block on Tulloch Street to a Heritage Hub and Information Centre and a film project ‘Come Dine with Me through Time’ involving local young people looking at living and eating in Viking times.

The young people will attend the forum to give a presentation on their involvement with the film.

The Black Isle Ward Forum on June 9 will be held in Culbokie Primary School from 6-8pm and will look at major changes in the way that health and social care is delivered.

Members of the public are welcome at ward forums which also include representation from many of the area's community councils.

Margaret Paterson: 'Exciting'