Regular readers will remember the Gurn has recently published a few articles on this subject. (scroll down on that page if you follow the link). Well the clock has been ticking very quickly and in less than 48 hours the matter will be discussed at the Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee. The Director has recommended applications but will Nairn feature? You can read the relevant document here.
A regular Gurnite is wondering if the business community and the Visit Nairn Group has done any lobbying of our councillors on this subject and indeed,whether there should have been some public consultation on the subject from our four councillors? Will Nairn be in with a shout? We'll just have to see what comes out of that meeting and as the report states:
'The first deadline for applications will be 5 June 2009. The Scottish Government hope to
complete the assessment process and be able to announce offers of grant around 30 July
2009.'
I fear this is a lost opportunity. I understand it will be mentioned at the Nairnshire Partnership but it is much too late to do anything. While there are a number of groups active in the town, a project of this scale requires a well thought through plan under the auspices of Highland Council. We don't have a plan. We don't know what we want to do with the town centre. But I invite the powers that be to set up a town centre planning group so that we can hammer out the issues and tackle the blights we can all see. We need some vision for the future and we won't get it by sitting around waiting for Somerfield or the Coop to deliver it.
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