The Nairnshire Telegraph this week detailed how poorly Nairn’s Visitor Information Centre is funded in relation to other parts of the Highlands. The figures speak for themselves and so does Michael Green’s argument. If you haven’t read the article and the accompanying editorial yet then get a copy of the Nairnshire. Liz wishes to Nairn area targeted for marketing and has been speaking to the relevant official, Michael will be beating a path to his door soon too. Again, an example of having to talk to someone in Inverness about matters essential to Nairn? Wouldn’t it be better to let that marketing be Nairn based, with those who know the strengths of the local market deciding where money is spent? And also, wouldn’t it be much easier if we had more decision making power here about how we could use our equitable financial share of what is dispensed across the Highlands?
We have a new administration in Glenurquhart Road that has indicated it wishes to hand some power back to local communities. How about that administration reinforcing that committment by giving Nairn a fair share of the money the Highland Council spends on tourism? The operation out of the community centre receives £2,000 support according to the figures examined by Michael Green and reported in the front page article. We cannot be delivered to the promised land immediately but surely that £2,000 could be doubled this year? If we are to see a genuine new dawn in the relationship between Glenurquhart Road and communities beyond Inverness then issues like this will have to be examined and far-reaching moves towards localism put in place.
1 comment:
Well, is the TI service in the community centre struggling to cope?
If not, then perhaps instead of arguing for more money to that service, perhaps instead consider amendments to the town to help tourism.
For example, the new car park to replace the old community centre could benefit from modifying to allow coach parking space. That way tourists can actually stop in the town, and buy from local providers - instead of parking on the links and leaving once they've finished on the beach.
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