Nairn public meetings to focus on tourism and town centre regeneration

Tourism and events will be the main focus of the next Highland Council Nairn Ward Forum which will take place on Monday 31 March at the Court House in Nairn from 3pm to 5pm. 

 Members of the Council’s Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee have also agreed that a public consultation event will be organised in the near future to ask the public’s opinion on finding the best ways of delivering town centre regeneration in Nairn. This follows a successful bid for funding from the Scottish Government, with similar events also held in Tain and Fort William.

 A design team will liaise with local Members and the community to help raise awareness among community groups and get people involved. Timings of the public consultation will be promoted in due course. 

 At the Nairn Ward Forum on 31 March Alan Rankin, Chief Executive of the Cairngorm Business Partnership, will open the Forum with a presentation, giving an overview of the approach taken in Badenoch and Strathspey and what this has delivered for the area.

 Colin Simpson, Highland Council’s Tourism Co-ordinator will lead on tourism and events, including introducing successful approaches to tourism development experienced elsewhere. The advantages of a Business Improvement District for Nairn will also be explored with the aim of preparing a Tourism Action Plan for the area. Rosemary Young, Visit Nairn, will then provide the viewpoint of local providers. Visit Scotland and HIE will also be in attendance. 

 The Forum is chaired by Leader of the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, Councillor Liz MacDonald and discussion will follow the presentations.

 Leader MacDonald said: “This is an open invitation for all to attend the Tourism Forum. As we look at the success of Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism businesses voting to create the first Tourism Business Improvement District (T BID) in the UK – this is an exciting opportunity for people in Nairn to have their say on how we can improve our future tourism economy.”

 There will be time set aside at the end of the meeting to take questions from the floor, and to address any public questions to the Forum. Public questions should be advised in advance of the Forum in writing in order that informed responses can be given at the meeting. The Ward Forum will take place on Monday 31 March at the Court House in Nairn from 3pm to 5pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

 For further information or to submit questions please phone Liz Cowie, Ward Manager on 01667 458511 or email: liz.cowie@highland.gov.uk