Sunday miscellany

David Shaw sent us the above picture (click to enlarge) of around a 1000 Knot on the shingle bank by the west pier, just after low tide yesterday. He told the Gurn: 

" I have not seen them at this spot before. Shortly after I took the picture the incoming tide caused them to lift and fly round to their usual spot on the east beach."

The Information notice board that was due to be filled by information by River Community Council after being bereft of anything since its installation nearly two months ago remains in an information-less state. The Gurn understands from a source close to the River CC hierarchy that a key cannot be found for the new facility. 

Sadly Semi-Chem had one of their windows smashed overnight but on the brighter side Concept Gifts is reopening tomorrow. The weather remains mild for November, the gorse is out on the dunes by the caravan site and on the Auldearn Burn a fine specimen of Giant Hogweed appears to be untroubled by the two light frosts we have had so far. Further along the burn a car was lying on its side in the water this morning. Hopefully no one was hurt after it left the Grantown Road and headed down into the burn. Migratory trolleys have also made their first appearance at the Jubilee Bridge this season. 

We were given a few more images from the Christmas Lights ceremony on Friday and they can be seen at the bottom of this flickr page here. Thanks very much to our regular reader who sent in the images. 

The day (or the daylight perhaps) is done now, the boat is in, the sunset was a reasonable one and from the brae the town’s street lights can now be seen in all their glory. 

Have a good week Gurnshire, and finally here’s a suggestion from another of our readers – anyone fancy a try at a car free town centre on Sundays?

Concept Gifts on the brae - reopening tomorrow Monday 1st December

Chernobyl Kids Ceilidh success

Donald Wilson tells us: 

"Thanks to the Gurn from Nurn helping publicise the ceilidh for the St Andrew's Chernobyl Children's Lifeline. Great turn out and £500 raised for a worthwhile cause. Residents from St. Olaf, Queenspark Gardens, a party of Polish residents from Inverness and Nairn were joined by Provost Laurie Fraser and his family as well as the regular ceilidh supporters enjoying the music and dancing to Champin at the Bit, Nairn Speldings and Eileen Solan."

"Student-designed Ashers of Nairn tartan to be officially registered by The Scottish Register of Tartans"

"A contemporary tartan designed by a student during a work experience placement has been registered by The Scottish Register of Tartans.

Rachel Evison a fourth year textile and design student at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels, created ‘Ashers of Nairn’ tartan."  More here on the Westmorland Gazette site. 

Nairn Christmas lights and tree festival - pictures

Amazing night inside and outside of St Ninians Church tonight. Sadly the trees were only to be there for tonight - a pity they could have been a massive attraction all next week and beyond. Big thanks to all who worked so hard to make this show possible. 

Below is a wee slideshow, individual pictures here and a full screen slideshow here.

Massive turnout for Christmas lights and tree festival

More pictures from an enchanting night soon. 

Nairn Traffic Lights delays back to normal?

In recent weeks there has been a marked improvement in the time it takes to pass through the series of Nairn traffic lights. Tonight however, out there in Nairnshire cyberspace, there are reports of serious delays again. The picture below shows the situation with delays out past Achareidh.

Mo Bros Nairn Health Care pic exclusive

"Mo Bro's delivering healthcare at 3am in Nairn."

See this article here for more information on the Nairn Health Care Group's Movember participation and  you can make a donation to this worthy cause on this page here.

It's Black Friday - the day of the mega consumer hit - has anyone noticed?

It is really an American thing and an event that kicks off the Christmas shopping period but it is grabbing hold here. Apparently it can get really crazy over there and has a history of violence too - more on wikipedia. One of the local Sainsbury's folk is promoting this event in the retail calendar vigorously on social media. Here's George's take on it:

@GurnNurn Black Friday at Sainsburys, pick up a bargain! But when it's gone it's gone! #blackfridaydeals #sainsburys pic.twitter.com/T8gI2rCLN7

— GeorgeK_2014 (@GeorgeK_2014) November 28, 2014

This observer might even go up but no doubt it will all be gone by the time I have a second cup of tea and a slice of toast.  Sainsbury's are obviously having a wee Black Friday gig - has anyone else in town got any special offers today?

UPDATE - reports of Zombie violence at stores elsewhere but all calm in Nairn. Fiona tells us Tradeway also have Black Friday reduced items. 

Ex-retained firefighter from Nairn donates collection of UK fire brigade badges to SFRS

"A former retained firefighter from Nairn has kindly donated his entire collection of fire service cap badges collected during his career. David Ramsay (66) from Nairn retired from Highland and Islands Fire Brigade in 2004 having served his local community for a total of 22 years." More details by following the link in the tweet below.

Ex-retained firefighter from Nairn donates collection of UK fire brigade badges to SFRS - http://t.co/vzzegO0KGm pic.twitter.com/TYlcysGyjR
— Scottish Fire- North (@scotfire_north) November 27, 2014

Still Movember for some GPs at Nairn Healthcare Group

Article below from the practice:

So…..it’s November and you may once again be seeing a radical increase in facial hair. Welcome to Movember!

The Movember Foundation is a global organisation committed to changing men’s health for the better. Every November, males are encouraged to grow a moustache to spark conversation and to raise funds to help with prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.

1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lives and one man every hour sadly dies from this disease. We are also witnessing testicular cancer to be the most common cancer in men aged 25-49 along with 1 in 8 men experiencing mental health disorders. We need your help and support to
overcome this!

Since 2003, Movember has funded more than 800 programmes in 21 countries and is saving and improving the lives of men affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health issues. Worldwide, Movember has managed to make a staggering £345 million.

Now, we need your help to raise funds for the Movember Foundation. You may have noticed a few of our very own GPs are supporting new moustaches. Our “Mo Bros”, Dr Baker, Dr Simmons, Dr Ball, Dr Holdcroft and Dr McDougall would greatly appreciate any donation that you can afford. You can support them by picking up a sponsor form from our very own reception desk in the Nairn branch or donating online at www.mobro.co/nairnhealthcare.

We are thankful for any support you can offer. Let’s help beat these life-threatening health issues.

Nairn 1 Fraserburgh 2 Pictures Donald Matheson

Individual images here.

 

Match report here and Courier article about Les Fridge not being interested in the vacant Elgin job here. This observer has noticed that fans rumblings about the manager have increased markedly as the season has progressed and complaints now extend beyond the "usual suspects". County could still prove themselves to be top 5/6 material but that opportunity may slip away completely by Christmas if the current bout of inconsistency continues. 2014 does not appear to be developing into the sort of centenary year (at least on the pitch) that many fans had hoped for.

Pay a pound a week more Council Tax to stop the cuts? The Independent group on Highland Council think that could be the answer

The Independent Group on Highland Council are calling for a 5% Council tax rise to stop the forthcoming cuts. See below their press release on the subject and a copy of a motion they intend to put to the Highland Council on the 18th of December

The 34-strong Independent Group at Highland Council is calling on the people of the Highlands to help protect the vital services that the SNP/LibDem/Lab coalition is willing to sacrifice in the name of austerity.

Cllr Carolyn Wilson, Leader of the Independent Group said: 

"Despite the recent announcement of a u-turn on the length of the school day by Cllr Maxine Smith, Budget Leader on behalf of the SNP/LibDem/Lab coalition, we are still extremely concerned about the lack of clarity around the shortening of the school day. Her comments that this will only be a delay offers no reassurance to the public and parents that this has indeed gone away. The postponement just leaves it hanging over parents for the next round of cuts. And the unanswered question remains: what other services will they slash instead?”

The administration is pursuing swathing cuts to education and other front line services including pools, libraries and winter gritting along with large rises in car parking that will damage our fragile High Street towns and villages, all against the wishes of Highland residents. The political parties seem willing to agree these without thinking about the impact on our Highland communities.

“We have come up with proposals to safeguard a wide range of these services that people are telling us they value and want protected. Today we are announcing our intention to end the SNP seven year imposed council tax freeze, and instead raise it by an average of a pound a week for a Band C property, which would generate over £5 million. This would work out at less than £5 per month and would end nearly a decade of cuts to frontline services that are damaging to the Highlands.

Four potential SNP candidates for the job of standing against Danny Alexander...including a Nairn member...party hustings begin soon

The national Scottish meejah are making much of Drew Hendry's possible candidature see tweet below

Highland Council leader @drewhendrySNP announces intention to stand for election in @dannyalexander's Inverness seat: http://t.co/iMh8me8RoS
— Scotsman (@TheScotsman) November 24, 2014

However there are at least three others that are going to be offering themselves to the constituency members choice including local councillor Liz MacDonald, another Highland Councillor Ken Gowans and a Grantown resident Ron MacWilliam. The Gurn understands that more details will be in at least one local newspaper that is published on a Tuesday. 

I'm delighted to announce that I have accepted a nomination to enter SNP selection process for candidate for Westminster.
— Liz McDonald SNP (@Liz_Nairn) November 24, 2014

Update - developing...Liz picking up partisan support online:

We are backing Liz ALL the way! Others need not apply. http://t.co/UQl0J3gKM3
— Yes Nairn (@YesNairn) November 24, 2014

Update on Alistair Wilson murder investigation - 10 years on

Police Scotland has provided an update on the murder inquiry into the fatal shooting of Alistair Wilson nearly ten years ago in Nairn.

Alistair, 30, a married father of two children who worked as a local business banking manager, was shot dead on the doorstep of his home in Crescent Road, Nairn, on November 28, 2004.

Since then extensive police inquiries have been conducted to establish the person or persons responsible for his murder. To date, no-one has been arrested and charged with his murder.

Under the new procedures introduced by Police Scotland, the case is the subject to a homicide governance review, which is looking at previous investigation strands to ascertain if all possible lines of inquiry have been thoroughly exhausted.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gary Flannigan, of the Specialist Crime Division Major Investigation Team, has overseen the strategic review.

He said: "Ten years on from his death, Alistair’s murder remains unsolved. Police Scotland is determined to ensure that every possible avenue has been explored in our continued efforts to find answers for Alistair’s family and friends and to bring whoever was involved in his murder to justice.

"Over the course of a decade, detectives have worked tirelessly using a wide range of methodologies, seeking expert help from throughout the UK and considering advances in forensic science all in an effort to help detect this highly unusual crime.

"We will continue to appeal to anyone who has information to come forward. Despite media appeals throughout the past ten years at times appropriate to our investigative strategy, playing an important part in helping us generate information, no new critical information has emerged at this time.

"While the information coming to us has slowed down, I know that someone somewhere knows exactly how and why Alistair was shot. Unsolved homicides are never closed; they remain open in the hope that the vital piece of evidence surfaces to help bring the investigation to a conclusion.

"Somebody out there knows something or perhaps suspects they know why Alistair was murdered. It’s not too late to come forward, and for the sake of Alistair’s family I’d appeal to you to pick up the phone.

"All unsolved homicides are subject to review and this case is no different. One of the key aims in the introduction of Police Scotland was to increase access to specialist services and detectives who have a vast array of investigative skills and experience that can be deployed.

Police Scotland took on responsibility for a number of unsolved and unresolved homicides in April 2013 and it is only right that we subject those cases to scrutiny and review to provide answers for victims’ families and bring those responsible to justice.”

Chief Superintendent Julian Innes, Local Police Commander for Highlands and Islands Division, said:

"The murder of Alistair Wilson remains an active and ongoing enquiry. As a result of becoming Police Scotland, the Highlands and Islands Division has had greater access to specialist support and that’s being used to progress this investigation.

"We are all committed to bringing Alistair’s killer to justice. The support shown by the local community has been there from the start and remains as the impact of this dreadful crime is still felt. I remain hopeful that someone will have the vital piece of information that can make a difference.

"Crimes of this type are rare in the Highlands and Islands as indeed they are across Scotland. We are absolutely committed to working with our community planning partners to keep our communities safe.”

Additional information:

Since the start of the inquiry, the police have taken more than 4,100 statements; 2,700 productions held; 11,000 actions raised as a result of investigations.

A £5000 reward, through the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, remains available for information passed to the charity’s anonymous 0800 555 111 number that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for this crime.

The Wilson family has released a statement to media. The family has intimated they do not wish to speak to the media at this time.

Read more: Fresh appeal issued in murder investigation [Published 30 September 2013]

Christmas Lights switch on Friday 28th Nov 6.30 p.m.

Fox to inaugurate new Nairn SSP branch with promise to combat ‘slave wages’ and fuel poverty

Scottish Socialist Party leader Colin Fox will be in Nairn next week [Tuesday 25th November] to establish a new branch of the party. 

The former MSP and member of the ‘Yes Scotland’ Advisory Board told us the SSP has been ‘overwhelmed’ by interest from the Highlands since the referendum.

‘More than 2,500 people have applied to join the Scottish Socialist Party since September 18th’ he said ‘including hundreds from the Highlands. So I am delighted to be visiting Nairn Community Centre to meet local party members and establish a new branch. 

‘Making the case for Independence will clearly remain a central part of our work. But we will also press for a £10/hour living wage to combat ‘slave wages’ in the region and fight fuel poverty too. The Highlands are particularly badly hit in both regards. Wage rates here are amongst the lowest in the country while gas and electricity bills are among the highest. 

‘Scottish Government figures show 30% of households here are forced to choose between heating and eating. This is a disgraceful state of affairs and we believe Governments at Westminster and Holyrood are not doing enough to address the widespread hardship being suffered.

‘ The SSP believe it’s time everyone was paid a living wage of £10/hour and with winter fast approaching the SSP insists the provision of such an important utility can no longer be left at the discretion of private energy companies. This industry needs to be returned to public ownership a demand no other party is prepared to make.’

Tory mannie in Nairn tonight

Nairn tonight listening to issues with the NHS, Council Tax Education, EU and the costs of child care. These issues really matter #INBS
— Edward Mountain (@1edmountain) November 21, 2014

The Community Network Lunch - Tuesday 2nd December - 12 noon - 2 p.m.

Things are swinging down at Nairn's outdoor gym

Photos of #Nairn Outdoor Gym https://t.co/Nwx7625FUT
— The Highland Council (@HighlandCouncil) November 21, 2014

Culbin sands bridge thank you

One of our regular readers tells us: 

"Wondered if you could put a thank you on your page from all the walkers, dog walkers and runners who now have the benefit of a bridge to get to the beach from Kingsteps. I have attached a photo and would like to thank the person or people involved who kindly replaced the previous crossing which was removed by the high tides some time ago. Not the time of year to choose to get wet feet!"

This observer would think that Tom Wright, Morton Gillespie and Arthur Masson could be the targets for our regular reader's vote of thanks. Here's a previous Gurn article from earlier this year: " The Culbin Sands bridge disaster - March 2014 - Images and story by Morton Gillespie."

River CC happy with Rosebank Hall proposal but worries about Manor Care Centre flats

At their regular meeting last week the proposal to turn the Rosebank Church Hall into a dwelling house got the approval of Tommy Hogg and his River Community Council colleagues. The watchdogs were not so happy with the  Manor Care Centre's proposal for twelve flats however and are to hold further discussions before submitting their views as statutory consultees. 

Jeanne Tolmie said: "I have misgivings about this development, quite frankly and I've also problems with the actual siting of this, it looks as if it is over development and I'm very concerned about the wildlife in that site as well. We'll really have to think seriously about this."

9 years in the coming but County finally win at Grant Street Park - pictures Kenny MacLeod - Clach 0 Nairn 2

Individual images here.  A victory that means so much to the Wee County faithful. Match report here. 

Fancy a Sunday job once a fortnight? Details of groundstaff vacancies at Station Park here. 

Missing Dog Nairn cross Alsation/wolf - not seen since 5 p.m. Weds 19th

A dog has gone missing since 5.pm yesterday she is a cross Alsation/Wolf type bitch. One of our

regular readers asks Gurnites to keep a eye out for her and pass the word around. She was last seen at PJ Grant and Sons at 5.pm yesterday and hasn't been seen since if anybody sees her can they phone ******* and the number will transfer over to a mobile number.
Dog now found :-)

The Forres Street Parade - one for Nairn to copy asp?

Thanks to the regular reader who forwarded the link to an imaginative site for Forres High Street:

"Forres Street Parade is a website designed to value the past, celebrate the present and draw the attention of a world-wide audience to its history, its architectural heritage, its commercial life and to the spirit of our Royal Burgh.

Both sides of Forres High Street and Tolbooth Street are depicted as end-to-end and roof-to-pavement vistas, with archive images of times past and narrative-panels presenting brief histories of present-day buildings. The website includes our growing number of video interviews with shop and business proprietors to give a sense of the personality behind the shop front. This is an ongoing development process which is being updated day-by-day."

How would we pay for this I hear someone out there saying? How about using some of the eventual Lidl/Home Bargains/pub/restaurant sweetener cash planning gain funds should that application be successful.

Visit The Forres Street Parade here. 

Christmas lights and trees turn on Friday 28th November

November 28 Lights turn on & Xmas Tree Festival in St. Ninians Church, Nairn 6.30. Rotary are doing a tree themed on @NairnChallenge #nairn

— Nairnrotary (@Nairnrotary) November 18, 2014

River CC to support plan for 20 mph speed limit in their area

Support towards a 20 mile speed limit from River CC members last week at their regular meeting in the URC hall. Before them was a map showing proposed 20 mph limits in the town centre areas, Queenspark, Wellington and Waverley Roads, Lodgehill Road, Chattan Drive, Tulloch and Forbes Drives and Kilaravock Crescent. In fact everything between the A96 after the Showfield and the River. The Fishertown is already a 20 mph zone apart from Harbour Street that was left out of the original "20's plenty" initiative. 

Liz MacDonald suggested that the Community Council include a proposal in their submission to include Harbour Street in the Fishertown 20 mph zone. 

People who like Danny also like venison too apparently

There's been a spate of articles out there recently focussing on this YouGov profiling feature that lets you have a bit of fun. Click on the favourite dishes tab on this lifestyle page of YouGovers that like Danny Alexander MP and you can see how heavily venison features in their lifestyle for example.

Thanks to our regular reader who sent us this link. A quick flashback moment as this observer immediately thought of former Lib Dem Highland Councillor Oor Graham (Graham Marsden) and his call for Sainsbury's to stock local venison some time ago: "Graham's campaign for real venison in Sainsbury's Nairn" 

Meanwhile a Daily Telegraph article focuses on Danny's prospects in the forthcoming General Election in May 2015: "

"Danny Alexander 'will lose seat in 2015 unless there is a miracle turnaround' according to Lib Dem strategist." More here.  Still a week is a long time in politics and there is an eternity between now and May but looking tight for Danny according to the bookies and the Telegraph's source. 

Police in Nairn appeal for information following theft of bike

Between 11am and 2pm on Saturday 15th November 2014, a hybrid bike was stolen from the the rear of Scotmid, Bridge Street, Nairn.

The cycle is descirbed as being a men's black Carrera Hybrid cycle,with a silver metallic handle bar extender, silver lights front and rear, a pedometer and disc brakes front and rear. The cycle was secured with a combination lock that has also been stolen.

If anyone has any information on this incident they are encouraged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Nairn Common Good £187K loss investigation - report now available online - 11 pages but with names redacted

To read the report. Go to this page detailing the agenda of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee to be held this Thursday the 20th, click on item four and a PDF file will download.

Information before the report proper states:

"In view of the issues raised within the report, the Chief Executive has requested the Head of People & Performance and the Head of Corporate Governance to consider whether any disciplinary action or other action is appropriate."

Formartine 4 Nairn 3 - Pictures from Donald Matheson

Individual images here. 

A poem for the weekend from anonymous

Nairn is worried, a terrible crisis,
Not fear of Jihad or even Isis,
No fear of Ebola reaching our shires
Or people with families in terrible wars!
A horrible panic, all in despair ,
About the bloody notice board in Castle Square.

An article with comments on the notice board issue is ongoing here. 

Highland Council austerity cuts - Communities will have to be quick to shout out for the resources they wish to protect?

The Highland Council's austerity budget survey will come to an end soon. We have featured some of the possible impacts on our community in recent articles, including one where Liz MacDonald alerts us to the possible loss of 50% loss of the funding to Nairn Community and Arts Centre. 

Elsewhere others are waking up to the cuts that are to come. Down in Newtonmore the supporters of the Highland Folk Museum have been quick off the mark to start a social media campaign to prevent the closure of their local facility. 

The Folk Museum is a pan-Highland cultural facility and because of that efforts to save it from the full impact of cuts will probably get more momentum than any similar initiatives to protect the likes of our Community Centre or museum, etc ever would. In effect, across the Highlands communities will be competing against each other to offset the impact of austerity cuts in their localities. Those who wish to protect the folk museum are very wise in getting in early with a profile raising exercise. 

One of our regular readers said recently that this was a bad time to be a councillor as there were no easy choices to be made. Another has said that there is also a threat to Nairn Museum with it possibly losing a substantial part of its funding too. Nairn museum charges admission and is independently run. The Highland Folk Museum is run by the Highland Council’s “arm’s length” organisation Highlife Highland and entry is free so comparison is difficult but in its own way our small museum may do a lot to bring visitors to the town.

Coincidently, another of our readers has been concerned about the amount of public money going into the Highland Folk Museum for some time and would like to see it run on a more business orientated basis, especially as we move into the first waves of massive cuts. Our correspondent has stated:

“Apparently the original thinking behind the Highland Folk Park was to help create long term jobs and bring tourists into the area. It has been successful but at what cost? The fact that it is open only during the summer months and has the support of substantial numbers of volunteers helps to keep the running costs down enormously.” Our regular reader added that they thought the donation boxes dotted around the site were of little use and that there should be a sliding scale of charges for admission.

Our correspondent has given us figures that demonstrate that the Highland Folk Museum had expenditure of £535,000 in 2013 and income from donations and secondary spend of only £185,000. Campaigners to save the museum also call for charges to be made too, stating on a causes page:

“1. Get Highland Council to re-introduce entry charges at the Highland Folk Museum Newtonmore, with the aim of protecting our heritage  

2. To prevent the closure/sale of the Highland Folk Museum by the Highland Council

3. To ensure the Highland Folk Museum Collections remain in Badenoch.”

Compared to the potential of the Folk Museum to up their game and introduce charges what can our local museum do in a similar vein to raise? There have already been efforts to raise the profile and as stated above our museum already charges admission fees so no room for manoeuvre there. The folk museum also is part of the Highland Highlife network and therefore might have more chance of survival simply because of that. Of course it’s about real places and people and people’s jobs, including the folk museum cat perhaps, and it is tragic that one community’s gain might be another’s loss. Folk in Newtonmore could equally point to our swimming pool or library and the amount of public cash those facilities receive. Just illustrations of how complex the background to all the things we take for granted are when it comes to consideration of what must go. Who indeed would want to be a councillor and sign off the savage cuts that must come?

However, it is not to be forgotten too that there are those in Nairn who vehemently maintain that we don’t get our equitable share of local government resources anyway. If anyone has any figures about how much comes out of Nairn in terms of Council Tax and how much gets spent here pro rata they might be perhaps illuminating. It would be a place that Councillors would probably not want to go though as that kind of analysis might rock the raison d'etre of the Highland Council to the core if it were available. Whatever the reality of the fair share question it is unjust to this observer that communities have to face a one size fits all cuts regime imposed by a central authority. Would it not be better for the consultation to be devolved to local level and then we could decide ourselves what harm we wish to impose upon ourselves and where? Take the example in the survey of parking charges for every car park with over 20 spaces in the Highlands. Here in Nairn we don’t have any parking charges and with that many see an economic gain out of that for the town with tourists and locals coming in for shopping without having to pay for a parking space. The reality will be that those taking the survey elsewhere who have to pay charges already might be very inclined to vote for us to be inflicted with them too. 

As far as local government provision in the Highlands goes then a nightmare time is just around the corner as councillors sharpen the knives for what they are going to vote to sign off and the harm that will inflict on the Highlands.  

River CC to take on responsibility for Castle Lane Square information Board

River Community Council agreed on Wednesday night to take responsibility for the information board that was installed in Castle Lane Square over 2 months ago and has remained barren of information since.

50% funding cut for Nairn Community and Arts Centre coming down the tracks over the next few years?

Here on the Gurn we published a couple of posts earlier this week about some of the potential impacts from the outcome of the Highland Council’s austerity budget survey consultation. These impacts will be massive. Previous Gurn posts on potential car parking charges in Nairn here and what might happen to public toilets here plus cuts to flower beds etc, here. It has also emerged that there is a major threat to funding of our Community and Arts Centre coming down the tracks and this became very clear last night at the regular meeting of River Community Council in the URC hall.

Highland Councillor Liz MacDonald was present and commented on part of her organisation’s budget cuts consultation survey. She said: “On question 4 it’s about reducing funding to Highlife Highland to some of the larger grants and one of them that falls within that is our Nairn Arts and Community Centre..”

Liz was interrupted by Stephanie Whittaker who interjected with: “and the Library and the Swimming Pool?”

Liz resumed, “Well, that’s on a different question but question 4 is particularly relevant for Nairn Community Centre. It’s one of the larger outside bodies that receives grants. And I think the proposal is to reduce it by 10% over the next two years and then have a 50% cut in the budget overall. I think there is 714,000 in that budget. The intention is to cut it by 50% over the next few years. So I think if you are making a representation maybe just put in a word for the Community Centre and study that question 4 because it’s got a massive impact for our Community Centre and how it is funded in the future.”

Here is item four from the survey:

“4. Reprioritising grants for arts, sports and culture: £714,000

The Council provides around £1.5 million of funding to a range of organisations including independent museums, cultural organisations, sports groups, independent sports and leisure facilities, village halls and youth groups. The funding provided ranges from £500 per year to £150,000 per year. We propose to change how we fund these organisations, reducing the total budget by 50%, £714,000, and requiring all organisations to bid for funding. Bids will be assessed against new criteria which reflect the Council’s priorities. As an initial step towards this, all grants will be reduced by 10% over the first 2 years.”

You can access the Highland Council Survey here.

Liz on Common Good £187K loss repayment aftermath - "Everything is in that report and if anyone wants to investigate further the information is there"

This article about discussion last night (12/11/14) at the River Community Council meeting in the URC hall is best read in conjunction with one posted beforehand entitled “£187K Common Good lease loss - Liz says members did ask questions in the past - report on fiasco will be in the public domain next week”

After Liz finished her revealing, and possibly explosive, initial comments about the Common Good report Mike Henderson was quick off the mark, he said:

“If it is so simple to find out who they were why take them out in the first place. What are these officials trying to hide?”

Liz responded: “Everything is in that report and if anyone wants to investigate further the information is there.” 

Mike continued and reminisced about a meeting in the Courthouse: “I remember going up there with Tommy Hogg. I can’t remember who else was there in the Courthouse. There was a move afoot for the other CCs to get a foot in the door about the Common Good and we were told right at the start get your noses out of this and the councillors said “It’s in safe hands”. 

Liz came back: “Well I think the Councillors had asked the questions and we were given...” 

She was cut short by an intervention from Tommy Hogg, chairing the meeting, who said to Mike Henderson: “No you’re right enough there.”

Liz continued: “What we were told by William Gillfinnan was the legal advice we were given by Queen’s Counsel about the Council has the duty to administer the Common Good and I think that is why the Council have so quickly said we’re responsible for this because it had been questioned over the years.”

Tommy picked up his thread again: “He was adamant Liz, he was quite forceful actually, we were told to butt out.”

A little later in the debate Liz said: “There is a whole timetable there of what went wrong, how it happened and there are internal e-mails between officers about... flagging up the issue about there needing to be a rent review but it was never put to members and members had asked along the way at different times “How can we raise this rent for Parkdean and..”

Stephanie Whittaker then made an impassioned plea: “I think this shows there is a good case here for local people to be involved and on a board for the Common Good. It’s not fair to leave it to four local councillors and the rest of the Councillors in the Highland Region who don’t understand Nairn, who don’t come from Nairn and don’t care for it in the way we do.”

Simon Noble then had a question for Liz: “Can I ask about the decision to redact the names of the officers. I’m not making a plan to publicise peoples’ names, vilifying and all the rest of that. I think it is a really difficult situation for all concerned but can you tell us something about when the decision to redact the names was made and who was involved in that decision and how it was arrived at?”

Liz responded: “I was told yesterday from the Director of Finance, who has been extremely helpful in sorting out this mess, that the report was coming to the Audit and Scrutiny next week and I would assume it would have been done by the Chief Executive and the Directors to redact.”

“Is there any kind of explanation in the public arena about why the decision to redact was taken?” Added Simon.

Liz replied: “I don’t know why. I would imagine because that some of the folk are still employed by the Council.”

Simon Noble had a further contribution: “One of the difficulties about not knowing why is that it allows people to speculate that it’s about self-interest instead of sensitivity or whatever it might be because one can imagine...” 

Liz quickly said: “Well it is a very detailed report.”

Veteran, and elder stateswoman of River CC, Jeanne Tolmie then said: It will be very interesting to see this detailed report at last.”

Liz concluded: “We’ve now got files that we can actually go and see what is happening there. Before everything was held centrally.”

Madainn mhath Inbhir Narann - Good morning Nairn

Agus abair thusa gu bheil coltas sèimh air cuisean a-rithist. And you could certainly say that things are looking mild again. 

Hats off to B Mac though who really got the image of this Nairn sunrise, you can see his stunning picture here on twitter. 

£187K Common Good lease loss - Liz says members did ask questions in the past - report on fiasco will be in the public domain next week

Recently the Highland Council put up the white flag and paid Nairn Common Good fund back 187K for losses incurred from failure to raise the caravan site rental at regularly agreed intervals in line with inflation. A report for the chief executive on the background to the sad saga was not in the public domain at the time when the repayment decision was made at the full council however. Tonight at River CC’s regular meeting, the Area Leader, Liz was present and made a statement that gripped the attention of Community Council members and those on the public benches alike. She said:

“I just wanted to say something about the Common Good because there’s obviously been quite a lot about that in the papers recently. In fairness to previous members that have been on the committee and the area committee in the Nairn ward, we had raised it several times about increasing the rent at Parkdean and it had been challenged a few times: in 2001, 2003 and 2005 by local members to get the rent increased and investigated during different periods of signing the lease or changing the lease and we had a big, in 2005, a big inventory of Common Good assets and to look at look at the market value and rents for all the...the rent levels for all our... especially commercial lets and that was Parkdean which was the main commercial let at the time.

So in fairness to other members I think it is worth mentioning that and the report that was done for Steve Barron will be going to the Audit and Scrutiny committee next week and that will be the full report. It has got the names redacted out of the officers that have been involved in it but I have done a bit of investigating myself because I thought “well that’s not true”, we had asked questions about the rent and why wasn’t it going up and what could we do to increase it.  So it’s all in there and it is going to the audit and scrutiny next week and it’s easy enough to see who the officers were if you just go to the minutes and you can see who was involved at that time. It’s got proposed amendments to the lease in 2001 and who the officers were that were delegated to deal with that.”

Here on the Gurn we had previously called for this report to be made public (and had in fact submitted a Freedom of Information Request immediately after the Council meeting)  and are delighted that the so far secret report will enter the public domain next week. Obviously it will be a very well read and scrutinised document when it does make its debut and goodness knows what implications might flow from it. More tomorrow on the immediate response from River CC members to Liz’s dynamite revelations. 

Previous articles:

Highland Council's Nairn Common Good 14 year mega mistakes - £187K cash back - what Laurie said plus Gurn opinion

Highland Council's Nairn Common Good 14 year howler - £187K cash back - what Colin said

Highland Council's Nairn Common Good 14 year blunder - £187K cash back - what Michael said

Highland Council's Nairn Common Good 14 year admin disaster - £187K cash back - what Liz said

Highland Council to give Nairn Common Good £187K cashback - hands up to past mega-failure

Political times they are a changing? Scottish Socialist Party to organise branch in Nairn

Another new branch of @The_SSP_ will be inaugurated in the Highlands on Tuesday 25th Nov at 7pm in Nairn Community Centre. Come along & join
— Colin Fox (@colinfoxssp) November 12, 2014

Jonny Gould's Soccermongery "Another trip to Nairn County shows what football's about" - a must read piece by the soccer broadacster

The Sky News broadcaster, Wee County fan, and soccer pundit Jonny Gould really catches the atmosphere of Station Park  in his piece here "Another trip to Nairn County shows what football's about". 

To this observer he also distils onto his digital pages what our community is all about, the  bond between the club and the community over the last hundred years is well documented in the book of the club's history by Donald Wilson, Bill Logan and Graeme Macleod - an ideal Christmas gift by the way if you know anyone who hasn't seen a copy yet.  Jonny just about puts the essence of that connection into words. 

Give yourself a treat and read Jonny's impressions of his visit to Nairn and Station Park. 

Nairn Red Cross Shop ready to open - pictures

The ladies at Curves gym have been sourcing and saving up stock for the Red Cross shop for some time and today (Weds 12th) they were treated to a preview of a remarkably fitted out shop with a large range of merchandise that will undoubtedly be a major asset to the High Street. The Curves girls are in there from 12- 2 p.m and after that, although the shop is officially open tomorrow, the Gurn understands that the premises will be open to the public for a wee while today too. 

Below is a wee slide show of the interior of the shop. Individual images can be seen here.  Full screen slideshow here.

Don't fancy volunteering for the cludgies - never mind more help might be needed in the flower beds?

Highland Council's austerity budget consultation item 12 states:

"The Council currently spends £367,000 growing its own flowers in nurseries and also plants and maintains flower beds in public spaces across Highland. Some communities in Highland have successfully been maintaining flower beds and communal areas to a good standard for many years with financial assistance from ward discretionary funds, common good funds etc. 

We are keen to encourage this more widely. If community groups were to take over the Council’s floral displays and plant nurseries all over Highland, we would save around £367,000 per year. If groups are not able to take on these flower beds then we propose to resurface these areas (grass, bark etc.) to cut back on maintenance. 

What difference would this change make?"

 You can see the consultation questions here and two previous Gurn articles if you scroll down the page. 

Jumble sales, meetings, etc no more if planning application to turn Rosebank Hall into dwelling succeeds?

A very interesting application on the Highland Council's e-planning site for the Rosebank Hall. You can browse the plans here. 

Any community groups fancy taking over the local public toilets?

In their austerity budget consultation survey the Highland Council state in item 7:

"The Council currently spends £1.16 million on running and cleaning 127 public toilets across Highland. 28 of these are run well by community groups or businesses supported by the Council through the Highland Comfort Grant Scheme. If community groups or businesses were to take over the running of some of the remaining toilets, this could save the Council up to £575,000. There may be some other grant schemes that could support communities to do this as well. 

We intend to encourage community groups or businesses to take over the running of some of the toilets in Highland. If communities cannot take on the running of their toilets the Council would need to consider closing some of these facilities. 

If some of these facilities were to close, what difference would this change make?"

In an earlier post we highlighted a question in the survey which could lead to parking charges in Nairn. If anyone is in any doubt that crunch time is just around the corner then they should go and have a look at the questions in the survey themselves - a lot is going to change soon, the Highland Council budget consultation survey is available here.

Highland Council Budget Survey - Could mean charges for Nairn car parks?

Thanks to the regular reader who sent us a link to the survey pages. The survey is open until the 14th of November

Here's question 18b on the Highland Council Budget Survey:

"18 (b) We are proposing that we consider charging for any car park in Highland that has more than 20 spaces. The income that could be generated would be around £230,000 per year.  What difference would this change make?"

You then get a choice of options to tick on two levels, personal family impact and that to the community. Nairn businesses have often rallied over the threat to the town centre from potential parking charges and there have been campaigns in the past every time the spectre of car parking returned but could this go through on the nod if enough Highland residents elswhere are in favour when they complete the survey? Let's face it anyone being charged already is very likely to vote for others not currently being charged to suffer the same fate. 

The cuts are certainly going to go into the bone this time round. You can see the survey here by clicking on the "Complete our survey" link at the bottom of this Highland Council page. 

Just another thought here - would anyone parking on the Links carpark or down at the Maggot or the Harbour have to pay as well? All these sites have over 20 parking spaces. 

Book Launch - Auldearn's Past in Pictures - Sunday 16th November - Dunbar Hall 2-4 p.m.

One of the author's Malvina Taylor told the Gurn:

"Books will be available to buy on the day at a cost of £8.50 and thereafter from Auldearn Post Office, Strachans, Broadley Garden Centre, Nairn Bookshop and Brodie Countryfare." 

There could be further publications too as Malvina asks those going along on Sunday: "Please take along any photographs or memorabilia which could be used in any future books. "

The Meeting Place - Harbour Street

Sandra Dunbar tells the Gurn:

"I would like to let you and your subscribers know about a great new facility that has recently opened in our dear little town.

It is called The Meeting place, you will find us on Harbour street, across from Wedding Daze. we promote and facilitate, IT multimedia and digital inclusion for adults with additional support need, we have all ages here, from 16 to 75 years young. 

we are looking for peer mentors, volunteers, and adult learners, please spread the word, come and visit and you may like as much as we do and stay."

Gurn exclusive - positive information on the Castle lane information board from Sheena Baker

Re the information board that has lacked information since its installation in Castle Lane Square around two months ago. Sheena told the Gurn:

" I’ve spotted the various queries re the empty board in Castle Square and have taken it on myself to get things moving.

Back in Louise Clark's time the structure was ordered as was a town street map that is specifically for part of the display.

I have contacted Liz Cowie by e-mail and copied Louise in to try and see if we can do some sleuthing to ascertain where the map is lurking.

Next point. William Wordie from Redmayne Bentley off Castle Square kindly offered, at the Nairn Economic Initiative in August, to keep a key for the information boards once they are ready to use.

He made the point to me to-day when I re-checked this is still OK with him that there would have needed to be a period of time for the concrete to set before people started using it.

I hope that this will allay the various queries made by the many interested townsfolk and that we will soon see it being used."

Well done Sheena, hope your efforts pay off. 

UPDATE 19.27 11/11/14 Further info received from Sheena, she told us: 

"Michael Green helpfully responded to my e-mail yesterday and advised:

“The plan is for each board to be delegated to its respective Community Council, in this case River, who will oversee its management. They are having a meeting tonight to mandate themselves to take over the management of the boards and once that goes ahead we will hand control over to them”

The other info I received is that it is a network Access map of Nairn that is supposedly hiding somewhere waiting to be displayed. I think the wheels are now in motion and hopefully the info board will be just that soon."

A crispy white morning as the temperature finally drops winterwards

The sun rises over the Grantown Road. More pictures here. A bright sunny day beckons but it's the end for any plants that were still struggling on or the likes of some delphiniums that this observer saw recently,  they were about 18 inches high  and had been tempted to grow by the warm weather. 

County mug sandwich pic response to Daily Mail going viral

Out there today...

Nope, Daily Mail, there is not. pic.twitter.com/dfmTthZDVB
— Kenny Stewart (@Kenny__Stewart) November 9, 2014

Nairn 5 Lossie 2 - Gurn Pictures and images by Kenny MacLeod

Individual images here.



And Kenny MacLeod's individual images here

Remembrance Sunday Nairn

A large crowd gathered at the war memorial earlier today to watch the  laying of wreaths ceremony. 

Nairn 5 Lossie 2 - images from Donald Matheson

Individual images here.

Jonny was there - Nairn 5 Lossie 2

A glut of second-half goals as Sam Urquhart hits FOUR as @NairnCounty_FC run out 5-2 winners over @lossiemouthfc. pic.twitter.com/VssydRFx9P
— Jonny Gould (@jonnygould) November 8, 2014

Daily Mail bigging up on Alex Salmond v Danny Alexander speculation for General Election in May

Not too long ago we had a bit of fun with this here on Gurn Nurn after Alex stated on the BBC's Question Time that he was considering standing for a Westminster seat at the General Election. Currently with polling evidence in Scotland and with what William Hill bookies have to say the seat of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey is looking very much like it will fall to the SNP in May. A week is a long time in politics however and six months is an eternity but it seems that it will be very tough for Danny when the time comes.

The Daily Mail article looks all fluff just like the Gurn one really and the paper indicates that the Gordon seat might be Alex's choice if he does stand for Westminster. 

Who knows though, it would certainly electrify the local General Election atmosphere if Alex did go for it here. He's no stranger to the area too as the image below and this one here testify. 

Image from Bratach

Nairn High Street Information Board - ongoing info deficit - compare and contrast with elsewhere

On the left the information board in Dunblane. On the right the new information board in Nairn which has been with us for nearly two months now. 

Sports broadcasting celeb heading for Station Park today

So chuffed returning to @NairnCounty_FC v Lossiemouth tomorrow. Here's what happened first time I went http://t.co/O8JfAIpAtb #highlands
— Jonny Gould (@jonnygould) November 7, 2014

Here's Jonny wearing his Nairn County tie on Sky News.

Today the fans and players are anticipating another cracking 45 minutes. Last

week County exited the Scottish Cup at Arbroath but came away invigorated by a top-class performance at Gayfield.

It's also Ladies day at Station Park today. As usual programme editor Graeme MacLeod has produced another top quality issue. Graem said on the fans facebook page:

"It's Ladies Day at Station Park tomorrow so we have a special cover for the matchday programme as well as an exclusive interview with club captain Michael Morrison and a look at supporter Chris MacKinnon's epic Himalayan trek. On sale pre-match today for £2"

Fans have two fund raisers for the Ground Improvements Fund coming up this month. More details here. 

St Andrew's Night Ceilidh Sat 29th Nov in aid of Chernobyl Childrens Lifeline

Nairn County: The romance of the Scottish Cup - P&J's "The View from the Terrace" Iain Finlayson

Fin stars in the P&J - also available online here

Lack of information - update

One month ago we commented upon the startling lack of information on the information board put into Castle Square on the High Street 

There is still no information of any kind on either side of the board. Someone must have requested this item of street furniture, someone must have ordered it and someone must have paid for it. Time to finally put something in it or just pull it out and sell for scrap if it is never going to be used? 

High Street Co-op reopens tomorrow (6th November) after extensive make-over

Illegal occupation of disabled parking spaces – Dick Youngson speaks out

The parking situation is regularly discussed at Community Council meetings and as the interregnum between police control of parking and the take up of the responsibility by Highland Council continues the situation is apparently worsening in town. 

Dick said at last week’s community council meeting in Nairn Academy:

“Disabled parking: because we haven’t really got a traffic warden and we haven’t got police that are on the beat we find that there are a lot of disabled car spaces are being illegally occupied. We’re getting lots of complaints from people that need to park there so they can get out and then walk to where they want to go. We’re getting a lot of vans, delivery vans, that are parking up on the pavement and again people that are disabled, or their sight is terrible, they find it very difficult negotiating round all of these vehicles. These are the same vehicles that are causing quite a lot of pavement damage to the lock-blocking. It is really getting quite serious in Nairn with the misuse of parking space.”

A radical "inspirational housing" vision for the Nairn Common Good Fund

Here on the Gurn we reported what all four of our Highland Councillors had to say in Glenurquhart Road last week when the local authority put their hands up and paid £187,000 into Nairn’s Common Good fund to atone for their past mistakes. Michael Green spoke up for reform at that meeting. Earlier in the week he had gone further, he had outlined his radical vision for the Nairn Common Good at the joint meeting between Nairn West and Suburban Community Councils in the Academy on the Tuesday night. Here’s what he said:

“Going forward, the Common Good, as we get into these harder times, should be doing a wide range of things. We should be building, I won’t use the word “affordable” social housing, we should be building inspirational social housing. Because we own land, we can build absolutely top notch, state of the art, I call it “inspirational social housing. We should be building more houses like Corsee, for older people, single one bedrooms, the same as at Queens Park Gardens. That’s what we should be doing. We should be building self-build plots. The whole spectrum of accommodation. That’s one of the things the Common Good should be doing as we start coming into increasing surpluses and these are the type of decisions we are facing. 

We could also be looking at, and I won’t get too much tied up in too much detail, I’m just giving an indication of the range of things we should be doing. We should be buying up properties like was suggested by the Nairn Fund twenty years ago. [...] We should be doing that as the Common Good, buying up properties, taking them over, giving folk from Nairn the chance whereby they really don’t have the sort of commercial covenant that they need to get rental on a property. They could be able to get property from Nairn Common Good and give local folk a chance.

The other thing I will say about affordable housing, we should be providing it for Nairn people. We shouldn’t be some clearing centre for the Highlands. So that’s what we are needing to do now. Moving forward, the only way that we can get confidence, that we can get transparency into it and I’ve started the process, is, I would suggest is we do something like “The Friends of Nairn Common Good” which would be the councillors, community councillors and a selection of 3 or 4 individuals on a rotating basis who would meet quarterly to view, to have a...to examine the process, look at the investment strategy. Just give a local perspective into the Common Good – which is lacking. The Nairn Common Good is not the Inverness Common Good: they’ve got infrastructure, they’ve got capacity, they’ve got a lot of things that we don’t have. We’re not on that scale, we don’t have 20 odd councillors overseeing it and I think the current arrangement with four councillors overseeing it clearly fails because it’s clear in the past the lack of, the very poor governance there and there’s no local involvement. 

So I want to see local involvement and the next step I would suggest is that individuals and at meetings like this, lobby my three ward colleagues and to say “are you in favour of setting up The Friends of the Nairn Common Good?”. Because ultimately, if they’ve got confidence in it, they might even start leaving houses, they might even start leaving bequests, if they know it is a well managed entity, that’s what we want.”