Anyone remember this? - It was reported in the Press and Journal on February 18, 2008
"Local Green Party activists have given their support to Forestry Commission Scotland's plans for an eco-housing development in woods near Nairn. But they want to see more affordable houses included in the scheme at Kilnhill Wood, Lochloy.The Forestry Commission submitted proposals for 32 houses, eight chalets and community services last week.Green Party spokeswoman Eleanor Scott said: "We believe that this has the potential to be an innovative scheme which would give people the chance to live and work in a woodland setting.' "
Green Candidate Eleanor Scott went on to say in the article:
"We believe this development must become much more than just a group of nice eco-friendly houses - it must be about creating a truly sustainable community".
Green Candidate Eleanor Scott went on to say in the article:
"We believe this development must become much more than just a group of nice eco-friendly houses - it must be about creating a truly sustainable community".
Here at the Gurn we blogged:
"Well the problem is that everyone that lives in the country has a car and that will mean at least 40, 50, 60 cars coming down Lochloy Road every day? Many people are opposed to this scheme because the road out that way is just not up to it at the moment and people fear a serious accident. Just how will the folk from the truly sustainable community get their kids to school? Will the folk in the 'truly sustainable community have their own truly sustainable supermarket and truly sustainable petrol station? Maybe our former green msp knows something we don't - will cars be banned? 'See you later darling, just taking the handcart down to Nairn.' "
Sadly we think the Highland Greens are out of touch with what is really going on in our community, if they get an MSP this time round will we see more like the example above? If that proposal had gone through we might have got Nairn East even before Nairn South got off the drawing board.
7 comments:
The problem I have with the Green Party is their lack of economical forsight. Ideas on Public transport are nice, but I already pay too much tax as it is.
The development idea was interesting, but if I recall the main concern reported in the press wasn't that there may be more cars on Lochloy Road - after all, there are far more houses due to be built by Kylauren that would make traffic concerns less significant - but the fact it would bring people to Nairn "with a certain way of thinking". In other words, no weird outsiders, please. :)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7167107.stm
Brian - Unless the Kylauren homes are being planned for out past Kingsteps, they won't make any impact on the traffic issues that this development would bring. I have travelled the road out by Kilnhill regularly and I can vouch for how tight it can be along there when two cars meet, never mind anything bigger. The three or so miles of road from the edge of Nairn to Kilnhill would have to be significantly upgraded to support the level of traffic that such a development would bring.
Anonymous, the Greens are proposing to replace the unfair council tax rather than just freeze it. Take a look at the manifesto on line if you've time. Most Scots would pay less under Land Value Tax and big business would chip in a fairer share to fund the services we need.
@ Darn Sarf - now, now!
Brian, And why, when all those new homes are built, hasn't the planning authority insisted on a second exit from the 'Lochloy' Estate onto the A96 via a new road bridge at Balmakeith? Lochloy Road is fast becoming a rat run through to Forres and when the new traffic light phasing and Sainsburys come into place I suspect even more traffic will take the back way into Forres. Plus there are planning applications in place for five more houses on Lochloy Road (plus a holiday home), at least three curently under construction, plus three more (waiting to be built or occupied) on the C1152 off Lochloy Road. Lochloy Road is an accident waiting to happen.
Maybe the answer would have been to convert the Kylauren Estate into a self-sustainable green community - within walking distance of the town centre facilities - instead of the Inverness commuter belt it seems to have become.
Nairnshire Local Plan states re Nairnshire:
"There is an overwhelming dependence on commuting reflected in some 42% of the local workforce currently in jobs outwith the area."
Figures in other sections of the plan reveal a population of about 11,000 with 58% estimated to be economically active with total employment at 5,490 and some 2,200 assumed commuter related jobs.
The Plan also noted that high levels of commuting and loss of trade threaten to undermine established commercial functions.
I wonder what the latest figures are?
Post a Comment