“The way things are going at the moment we are going to lose a lot if we don’t actually step in or cooperate or make sure that things happen. "

An interesting meeting was held tonight in the Nairn Community and Arts Centre of the Nairnshire, Croy and Ardersier Community Councils. 

Earlier today one of our local members commented on Facebook about the possibilities of returning democracy to Nairn after Independence. Tonight a range of views were heard about returning more decision making to Nairn as soon as possible and the referendum in 2014 did not feature in that discussion. It was entirely obvious to this observer that there is still a deep dissatisfaction abroad in the community about how Nairn is administered and a wide feeling that the democratic deficit is as broad as it ever was. As the macro debate rages about Scotland’s governance dissent about Nairn’s administration has not gone away and still finds a powerful voice.  

Topics discussed included how to have more say in  the following areas: planning in central Nairn; housing and allocation of rented houses/flats for local people and families; shops and regeneration; roads and A96; links and parks – local say, local team and community planning. The meeting also discussed in depth the concept of “locality planning” and how that could be implemented in Nairn.

No Nairn members of Highland Council were present but Roddy Balfour who represents the neighbouring ward was at the gathering.

Introducing the meeting Dick Youngson said: “The way things are going at the moment we are going to lose a lot if we don’t actually step in or cooperate or make sure that things happen. As community councillors we can’t necessarily do a lot more than we are doing and perhaps it’s not really the role of community councils to do lot of devolved work which Highland Council can do, or won’t be able to do or won’t have the funds to do in the future […] we are all going to be strapped for cash to make progress. However, there is a lot we can tap funds of all sorts for community use and Holyrood and ministers are very keen that communities actually should look at handling or covering a lot of their own affairs. And it’s really how we can actually do that, how we can progress that into setting up development groups and appropriate funds.”

In that vein the meeting continued for nearly two hours. Much more on the Gurn over the next few days when time permits.