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Stage set for parking charges at city theatre


By Val Sweeney



Eden Court
Eden Court

CAR parking charges are to be introduced at Eden Court in Inverness in a bid to generate much-needed funding.

The venue, which is facing funding cuts of more than £1 million over the next three years, will bring in charges from the end of next week.

James Mackenzie-Blackman, the venue’s new chief executive, said the income – an anticipated £90,000 a year – will help to maintain its world-class programme of arts and culture and contribute towards the cost of maintaining the car park and buildings.

But nearby residents are concerned it could put further pressure on surrounding roads as theatre-goers go in search of free on-street parking. They are holding talks with Highland Council regarding possible measures.

The operation of the car park, comprising 74 spaces including 20 disabled bays, will be taken over by the council on September 1.

The charges will be £1 for up to one hour, £2 for two hours, £3 for up to four hours and £4 for up to 10 hours. All the income will be passed back to the theatre.

"This is something we have been reluctant to do for a number of years but unfortunately earlier this year we received two unexpected funding cuts totalling £400,000 per year for the next three years," Mr Mackenzie-Blackman said.

"To continue to deliver a world-class programme of events to the people of the Highlands, we have to explore new revenue streams.

"We remain one of the few theatres in Scotland to have any parking available for customers, paid or otherwise, and we want our customers to benefit from it. Currently we find a lot of our parking is taken up by people who aren’t even using Eden Court.

"We thought long and hard about this change, and the other options available to us, but in all reality, this is an important change to put in place to protect the quality of our programme at Eden Court."

Zosia Wierzbowicz-Fraser, chairwoman of Ballifeary Community Council, predicted the charges could add to existing parking problems in surrounding streets and said talks were taking place with the council about possible measures such as parking permits and double yellow lines.

"I think people going to Eden Court will probably do what most Highland Council employees do since the council started charging for its car parks," she said. "They will park in Ballifeary Road and Ballifeary Lane – anything to avoid paying. Ballifeary Road is choc-a-bloc during the day, to the point where residents cannot get into their own drives."

Inverness West councillor Graham Ross agreed existing parking issues had to be addressed but said the introduction of charges at Eden Court was a "no brainer".

"The reality is they have to look at assets under their control and see how they can best make money," he said. "These are not unreasonable charges."

Starlight Musical Theatre, which is staging My Fair Lady this week, will be the last company to be able to park free of charge.

Co-producer Donald Matheson said Inverness had been lucky to have Scotland’s only major arts venue offering free parking but also felt local theatre companies would be hard hit, with casts having to stump up though admitted "charges are probably in line with other similar venues".

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