Colin, one of the area’s two SNP councillors, has announced
that he is retiring from his role as a member of Highland Council. He has
informed the Council’s Chief Executive and office bearers and members of the
local branch of the SNP of his decision.
He told the Gurn that after his recent surgery it was the
only way to get a little stronger and to be able to focus on his exercise
regime and recovery. He said: “Nairn needs full-time Councillors and going
forward, that is regrettably not me.”
The Gurn understands that there may be more information from
Colin in this week’s Nairnshire Telegraph – usually available on a Monday
evening from one of Nairn’s many Co-op stores. Colin’s resignation will bring about a by-election
for his seat on the Highland Council.
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| Colin having a debate with Jim Murphy on Nairn High Street last August |
Sad news. Although I don't share his political stance, I do respect Colin and admire what he has done for Nairn.
ReplyDeleteThis will be a loss to Nairn. Colin was committed and conscientious.
ReplyDeleteParty-politics have not been helpful to local government in Nairn and the region, but to his credit Colin usually aimed to put the interests of Nairn ahead of personal or party considerations. He always tried to play a constructive role in making this town a better place.
We have to wish him contentment - and good health - in retirement, and hope that his successor will be an effective representative of Nairn and not a party apparatchik.
He probably did a good job on some things.but the slide issue was very bad!
ReplyDeleteHealth should always come first! Plus I wouldn't want there job! Never going to please everyone, You can only do what you can and he did well.
ReplyDeleteI am sure the slide wasn't all him, Id guess the order came from Inverness.
Personally I think he did very little for Nairn. To my recollection he did nothing to stop the on-going creep of the administration and centralisation of services to Inverness.
ReplyDeleteThe area committee has become a joke. Yet another Red Herring by the SNP centralisatonists.
Also at the original council meetings and Planning applications for the South Nairn Scotia fiasco HE DID NOT speak out against the project or the proposed over development of the site. Yet again he was towing the SNP party line of development at all costs.
I actually voted for Colin and Liz at the local elections because I thought they had the interests of Nairn at heart.
How wrong I was ! In future my vote will always go to an Independent candidate who really does care about Nairn.
It's about time we had proper strong and credible candidates who will stop the Highland Council steamroller of obliterating Nairn and the facilities it has to offer.
The removal of the slide is an absolute disgrace and our existing councillors should not have allowed this to happen.
It is obvious that some minor (and inexpensive) repairs would not only have preserved this asset but been at considerably less cost than the removal and re-landscaping that is currently being undertaken. The equipment and men have been on site for days now clocking up the cost by the minute. What an absolute disgrace.
As someone who worked with Colin, I can testify that he was always standing up for Nairn. This post is ignorant nonsense.
Delete@NairnRealist - the Highland Council is of course run by a tri-party alliance of SNP, LIbDems and Labour. If it remains a centralist organisation in your opinion then the blame should be shared equally.
ReplyDeleteAmazing. Out of all the really important issues that are facing Nairn some people concentrate on a slide!
ReplyDeleteI hope that Colin's health improves and would like to thank him for the work he carried out as our councillor
We concentrate on the slide because it meant a lot to the people of Nairn.Who were never given the chance to have our say.I call for Liz to also resign if she does not get the slide reinstated.
ReplyDeleteIt is things like the big slide that show how much councillers are in touch with Nairn people or not They have all failed us on this and don't deserve their massive wages!
ReplyDeleteOur councillors are on the slippery slope - pun intended.
ReplyDeleteWe elect the likes of councillors to make decisions on our behalf. It's more than likely that sometimes our councillors will upset some people but you can always vote for whoever you want at the next elections. That's the way our democracy is setup
ReplyDeleteIt's a thankless task being a councillor as you're always going to upset someone no matter how hard you try
Colin's resignation will mean such a vote will come up soon
It's a shame that of all elections those to appoint councillors get the lowest turnout, local matters are important
As to the slide... had it been repaired and had someone then had an accident I can just imagine as to how social media would be full of indignant folk asking as to why such a dangerous structure was repaired and left in place
It's not about being out of touch, it's taking the responsibility that others don't want to hold, witness how few people stand for the position of councillor
If you want to change matters why not stand, I'm sure we'd all like to see some new blood with interesting ideas for our town
Ok, now there will be a by election so time for all the armchair moaner's who think they can do better to put their money where their mouth's are! I'm sure that all the Councillors will tell you that it is not an easy job. Personally I wouldn't do it for all the tea in China.
ReplyDeleteWill the "Bring back the Big Slide" party be putting up a candidate?
ReplyDeleteSeems to me from reading the above comments that a certain party's supporters can see them do no wrong whatever they get up to or indeed don't get up to. I was once a supporter of this said party but find myself unable to do so anymore due to their "hear no evil see no evil" attitude. The Independants and other party's are no better. It's not just the slide, that's just the tip isn't it, there's the traffic lights fiasco, common good fund nonsense, gritting local roads to name a few quickly. If it's such a thankless task being a councillor then why are so many wishing to become one? Here's hoping if the vote doesn't go someone's way they demand a recount.......again.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that seemingly many people don't understand the current structure of local government that we have here. Nairn doesn't have a council and hasn't had for some years, likewise councillors are limited in what powers they have compared to bygone days
ReplyDeleteMight I suggest people read up a bit before sitting at their respective keyboards and spouting blame
What a fun job being a councillor seems to be
ReplyDeleteThe slide went 50years without any reported injuries,had it been properly repaired,it would have lasted another 50.Maybe the council doesn't have the same faith in local workmanship as it once did!.
ReplyDeleteColin did his best the problem for him and anyone else that wants the job is that a lot of people in Nairn have no faith at all in Highland Council.
ReplyDelete