Operation Respect - Inverness

Approached by 20 men in two hours: Reality of being a woman alone at night Cree-Summer Haughton walked alone on a busy street at night in a vulnerable situation to see who would help - she was approached by multiple men.

🗣 Today, our Coach and Visitor Ambassador service, which manages the Ardross Street coach drop-off/pick-up area, welcomed a visit from Phil Smith from the Confederation of Passenger Transport. This visit was part of the process to renew our city’s accreditation for being a ‘Coach Friendly’ city. 🚌😃

This accreditation recognises our ongoing commitment to providing excellent facilities and services for coach drivers and passengers, contributing to the positive experience of visitors to our city.⭐️

Pictured here (left to right) are Phil Smith of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, Janice Worthing, Aizak McIver and Doug McCallum of the Visitor and Coach Ambassador team, Councillor Ian Brown, City Leader and David Haas of the Highland Council.

This service is jointly supported by the Inverness Common Good Fund and Inverness BID.

🗣 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐟𝐭

Thanks to the Skipper of the Solway Fisher oil tanker, the Public Access Defibrillator which was stolen from the Church Street location on 30th June has been recovered. It was found in the River Ness and returned to Inverness BID, although is currently unusable due to water damage.

Ross Cowie from Lucky2BHere Charity has stepped up to get the defibrillator inspected and repaired, providing a replacement in the meantime. Huge thanks to John M Munro Butchers on Queensgate for generously covering the repair or replacement costs. Shop Manager Mark Russell (pictured) highlighted the importance of community support for this vital equipment which has been used on a number of occasions including very recently to help save a life. ❤

John McDonald, Community Safety Manager with Inverness BID, expressed gratitude to the Solway Fisher crew, Inverness Harbour Office, Police Scotland Highland & Islands, Lucky2BHere, and John Munro Butchers.

The defibrillator is now back in service at Church Street, ready to save lives once again.

📣 LOST EQUIPMENT:

This bag was recently left at Highland Tweeds on High Street. If you believe it belongs to you or if you know the owner, please contact us via private message.

Please share!

🗣️ UPDATE: Following enquiries by Police Scotland a person has been charged with with theft of the defibrillator and will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
Unfortunately the defibrillator has not been recovered. Inverness BID would welcome any information on its current whereabouts or alternatively if it were to be handed in somewhere with a message to the BID page.
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📣 CAN YOU HELP?!

Our city centre defibrillator based on Church Street has gone missing!

If you can help with any information regarding its whereabouts PLEASE get in touch by messaging us. ANY information would be greatly appreciated to help us recover this vital piece of life-saving equipment.
PLEASE SHARE ❤️ thank you 🤞

Note: The defibrillator may have been used for an emergency situation but at the moment this information is not available

🔎 Explore Job Opportunities in the City Centre!

Our latest list of job vacancies has been updated. Discover your next career move by visiting the link: https://qrco.de/JOB11 or by scanning the QR code in the image.

🚍🌟 Attention Highland Games Attendees! 🌟🚧

Heads up! Due to construction on Ardross Street, our Inverness Highland Games Shuttle Bus service has moved! Catch it now from the front of the Highland Council Headquarters Building on Glenurquhart Road to Bught Park. 🚌🌳

Operating from 10am to 6pm, and it's still FREE! Don't miss out—see you there! 🎉

Pay and Display parking is available at the rear car park at the Council HQ

📣 𝐁𝐈𝐃 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 ☀️

Our dedicated team are back on duty in the city centre throughout the summer holidays. The team will operate from today and every Monday to Saturday each week until Saturday 31st August 2024 between the hours of 11.30am and 5.30pm.

Businesses with ShopSafe Radios can easily contact them with any security concerns or assistance or they can be contacted via the mobile number given to businesses.

As always, they're working closely with the police and partners to keep our city centre safe and secure.

An update on our current and ongoing plans for Support Line provision. Unfortunately, we're still unable to accept incoming calls at this time.

For the month of July, support line will be available as following:

📱Text and Email only
🤗Open Tuesdays & Thursdays 1-4.30pm, and Wednesday 9.30am-1pm

We will remain closed on Mondays, and Fridays.

Please be assured that if you need to speak with us via phone, either send a text, email or leave a voicemail requesting a call-back and we will do our best to arrange a call at a time that suits you. This will be subject to staff availability.

Please note - we are still accepting referrals to our service as normal.

📱 Text us on: 07451 288 080

💌 Email us at: [email protected]

📞 To leave a voicemail requesting a call back, please call us on: 03330 066 909

Thank you for your patience and understanding whilst we are short staffed, we hope to resume normal service soon! 💜

Keep an eye out for volunteers of our team tonight who will be available to provide support to those in the city centre who may be unwell or injured.

Road Closure - View Place, , will be closed to southbound traffic (single lane closure) from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024 during traffic signal loop installation and repair works. Northbound traffic will be unaffected by the closure.

Yesterday was - do you know where they are in your home?

What are button batteries? .
They are small, flat, round batteries which can be easily swallowed by children.

Larger lithium batteries are the most dangerous. They are about the same size as a 5p piece. Smaller batteries can also be put into places like ears and noses.

Know which gadgets and toys use button batteries in your home.

They can be found in slim remote controls, calculators, thermometers, car key fobs, watches, fidget spinners, kitchen / bathroom scales, hearing aids, toys, flashing wands and headbands, flameless tealights, musical greeting cards and much more...

If you’re visiting or planning to visit the Highlands and Islands, you’re probably coming to see the stunning landscapes and the popular driving routes through them. Many of the roads are narrow, winding, and technical. There are lots of unpredictable hazards on rural roads and the changeable weather conditions and high volumes of traffic can make driving particularly challenging. You need to be careful, considerate, safe and competent to drive on these roads and you will be expected to know and drive to the Scotland's road safety standards, rules and laws.

Unfortunately, we see a disproportionately high number of serious and fatal road traffic collisions on Scotland’s rural roads, particularly around the summer season.
• 62% of all deaths on Scotland’s roads happen in the countryside.
• Over 700 people were killed or seriously injured on country roads in 2020.

These collisions have a devastating effect on those involved and their families as well as an enormous impact on the local communities and road network. Most of these collisions are avoidable.

Here’s some essential advice to stay safe with links to this advice in different languages:
• Drive on the left, if you normally drive on the right, always be vigilant and take particular care when setting off and negotiating junctions – put something on your wrist or dashboard to remind you
• Plan your journey - Take regular breaks and only undertake reasonable and manageable journeys – fatigue is a significant factor in fatal collisions – check traffic and weather conditions https://orlo.uk/HUn1d
• Look out for vulnerable road users - motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders are particularly vulnerable and make up a significant proportion of those injured or killed
• Don’t drink alcohol or take drugs and drive
• Don’t use your mobile phone when driving
• Speed limits are in ‘mph’, drive at a speed that is safe for the road, weather and traffic conditions
• Find safe places to stop off the road, don’t stop on the road to look at views or take pictures
• If a queue builds up behind you on any two-way carriageway or single-track road, use passing places and laybys as frequently as necessary to allow others to pass
Most importantly, if you are not confident driving on technical rural roads, then there is many other great ways to travel round the Highlands and Islands.

Website - https://orlo.uk/fvkKs
European Visitor Leaflet https://orlo.uk/DIj31
Rest of World Visitor Leaflet - https://orlo.uk/mRWaF

Guidance videos:
English - https://orlo.uk/ggDka
German - https://orlo.uk/7tIA1
Dutch - https://orlo.uk/52MY6
Italian - https://orlo.uk/FfHcB
Spanish - https://orlo.uk/b8SGL
French - https://orlo.uk/NrlFp
Chinese - https://orlo.uk/Q2VKf
Hindi - https://orlo.uk/q9hlZ
Japanese - https://orlo.uk/FZ3EZ

Along with our partners we want visitors and residents to be able to use and enjoy the roads safely. Please be responsible.

VisitCairngorms
Venture North
Cairngorms National Park
Traffic Scotland
North Coast 500
HIE
VisitScotland
Road Safety Scotland
The Highland Council

Here is a summary of your consumer rights when you buy at home 👇

If you need advice or information on your consumer rights contact
Advice Direct Scotland on
☎️ 0808 164 6000 Mon- Fri 9 am - 5 pm
💻 www.consumeradvice.scot

Thinking of booking a last-minute holiday?

Avoid these common holiday scams:

🏘️fake accommodation listings on social media
📞cold calls & emails offering deals
💻scam websites
✅fake reviews on popular travel sites

Find out more➡️www.tsscot.co.uk/holiday-scams

Inverness City Centre BID Inverness BID works on behalf of the businesses in a defined area of Inverness City Centre

The Southern Distributor Road will be closed to northbound traffic from 7am to 1pm on Sunday 2nd June 2024 during the Cancer Research UK Inverness . Southbound traffic flow will be unaffected.

This week we’re looking forward to some very busy days at the Ardross Street coach zone where our ambassadors will be on duty to warmly welcome visitors to Inverness 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😁🗺️

🚢 Tuesday 28th - MSC Preziosa (4000 px 1300 crew) 🇪🇺
🛳️ Wednesday 29th - Cunard Queen Anne (3200 px 1200 crew) 🇬🇧
🚢 Thursday 30th - Mein Schiff 3 (2500 px 1200 crew) 🇩🇪

In addition on Monday 27th the Ocean Albatros - a small expedition ship with under 200 px - will be docking in the Port. 🌊

We hope all our visitors have a wonderful time in the Highlands 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

📣 The engines are revving, the excitement is building, and the countdown has begun for the Inverness Classic Vehicle Show 2024 this Saturday in Inverness City Centre! 📣🛻🚗🚌🏍️🚜 🏁

Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the remarkable display of 170+ classic cars, bikes, military vehicles, vans, tractors and of course the iconic MacBrayne's bus! 🚍

And when you need a wee break, you have a wonderful choice of bars, cafes, restaurants right there to enjoy some food & drinks.🍹🍺🍔

The highlight of the day is the spectacular vehicle parade, kicking off at 3pm and led by the City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band. 🎶🥁 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

So come along and enjoy a fabulous day out in Inverness 😁 🫶

Great day meeting people and demonstrating the SafeKab app and our new booking and dispatch software at PHTM Expo 2024 in Milton Keynes! 😃🙌🚕

PHTM - Private Hire & Taxi Monthly

Officers and PD Corrie were out on patrol today at Inverness Railway Station and Bus Station raising awareness on County Lines. County Lines is used to describe gangs and organised criminal networks involved in transporting illegal drugs to our area. They exploit children and vulnerble adults to move the drugs, often using coercion, intimidation, violence and weapons. If you have any information about anyone involved or at risk of being involved in County Lines, please phone the Police via 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 11.

A reminder of where you can find the defibrillators in Inverness City Centre ❤️

Where are all 5 defibrillators in the city centre!?💛💛 #local #fyp #foryoupage #inverness #highlands #scottishhighlands #invernessbid #scotland #safety #healthandsafety #firstaid #defibrillator #defib

Cafe 1668 is a phenomenal cafe with tonnes of great options for you to enjoy! Every time you spend in the cafe the money gets used to pay for free meals which they distribute to the community weekly. Theres multiple ways for you to help and it’s as easy as eating some cake 🍰 and having a coffee ☕️ #local #fyp #foryoupage #inverness #highlands #scottishhighlands #invernessbid #scotland #community #foodaid #freemeals #coffee #cake #cafe

📣 Temporary Support Line Update 📣

Following on from our update in December, we wanted to let you know the current and ongoing plans for Support Line provision. Unfortunately, we're still unable to accept incoming calls at this time.

Up to 24th January 2024 we will be:
- Text and Email only
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9.30am-1pm
- Tuesday and Thursday, 1-4.30pm

From 25th January to the 1st March 2024 we will be:
- Text and Email only
- Tuesday, 1-4.30pm and Wednesday, 9.30am-1pm
- Closed Monday, Thursday and Friday

Please be assured that if you need to speak with us via phone, either send a text, email or leave a voicemail requesting a call-back and we will do our best to arrange a call at a time that suits you. This will be subject to staff availability.

Please note - we are still accepting referrals to our service.

📲 Text us on: 07451 288 080
📧 Email us at: [email protected]
☎️ To leave a voicemail requesting a call back, please call us on: 03330 066 909

Thank you for your patience and understanding!💜