Urban Realm sent someone to come and have a look at our carbuncular potential. Looks like the architect Mark Chalmers can't see what the fuss is all about in fact he doesn't seem to think we have a problem. Sorry Nairnbairn your anon nomination looks as though it is a big loser this time round because reading between the lines it looks like we are not a serious contender for the award.
"Perhaps the underlying concern which prompted the town’s nomination is a fear for the future: the threat of housing developments on the town’s edge. That unease often manifests itself in a series of ciphers – the call for lower speed limits really means cutting out non-resident traffic; higher quality development translates into exclusivity; and conservation equates to preservation of the status quo. After all, the current population has a vested interest in maintaining quiet roads, uninterrupted views, property prices and manageable school rolls."
Mmmm, Mr Chalmers does have a strong opinion or two doesn't he? More here on "Nairn at the Carbuncles, 2011". Nice pictures and interesting observations from the visitor Mark Chalmers.
9 comments:
Mr Bairn has gone very quiet, I wonder why?
Nairn at the Carbuncles is a very good example of;
Oh would some Power the gift to give us
To see ourselves as others see us!
A little disingenuous given that the whole point of the Gurn is to provoke thought and discussion. Nairnbairn had his/her say and while I was not happy with the nomination, the general criticism over a lack of joined-up planning was perhaps justified.
Graham Marsden actually made a good suggestion the other day. He said that he thought that a town should only be nominated for the Carbuncle award if five persons were willing to put their names to that nomination. One or five or twenty-five should they be allowed to remain anonymous though?
The nomination, which looks like it will be unsuccessful, has already had an impact on some people's thinking in the town due to the red-top newspaper angle on it. I saw a comment on the net from a young person about Nairn being judged the shittiest place in Scotland or words to that effect and have heard similar from an older person. The mere act of nominating Nairn has had a negative effect on some people's estimation of their own town. Yes we should gurn about what is wrong and needs sorted but we should also accentuate the fact that Nairn is Disneyland compared to the way some people have to live. And, maybe, just maybe, a supermarket (corner shop if you will) over at the bus station is something that wouldn't bring armageddon upon us. This observer was speaking to a NICEafarian recently who thought it would be ok if Marks and Spencers would open a food hall over there.
The stushie, thought and debate about the lack of joined up planning was an ongoing affair with Highland Council in the cross-airs as usual. Was the nomination only to serve as a diversion? It will be interesting to look back on this in a year or two's time.
Mark Chalmers appears to have got things in perspective and certainly has the ability to communicate his views succinctly.
Might be worth the NICEafarians ('nice' term Mr Gurneymeister) to ask for some further input from him about how he would sees development options for the area.
While I agree that Nairnbairn is, as is everyone else, entitled to their say, was this Carbuncle nomination really the right way to go about it? It's probably caused more harm than good. Where is Nairnbairn anyway, is he/she still lying low or do they not have the courage of their convictions?
I think the piece about Nairn is a decent refleciton of the sort of town we live in. Anyone living here would find something to agree with in the article.
As the Gurn says, compared to most places, this is utopia.
"...Nairn’s High Street is affluent and bustling with people. We visited the Inshes area of Inverness last year and concluded it was a car park with big sheds attached – yet the centre of Nairn has many independent shops housed in characterful buildings. Beyond the High Street lie a couple of derelict buildings, one of which is scaffolded, and an abandoned petrol station. Dereliction should be accepted, grudgingly, because we know towns have to evolve – the issue is its extent, and how long it lingers for."
Maybe Nairn could start the Nairnbairn award, presented each year to the person who has made the least positive contribution to the town
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