Nairn Healthcare news June 2016

Staffing

Nairn Healthcare would like to welcome Kevin Stuart to the team. Kevin is a paramedic and will be joining the duty team 4 days a week to do on-the-day telephone consultations and face-to-face appointments.

We would also like to extend a big thank you to Heather, our loyal cleaner at Ardersier Branch surgery for her 25 years of service.

Cervical Screening

From 6th June, the age range for cervical cancer will change from 20-60 years to 25-64 years. The frequency of cervical screening will continue to be every three years from women aged 25-49 but will change to every five years for women aged 50-64.

5,000 lives are saved by cervical screening in the UK every year. Please don’t ignore your invitation for your smear test, it could save your life!

For more information, visit www.nhsinform.co.uk/screening

or call 0800 22 44 88.

Survey

If you are attending the surgery for an appointment with a GP, you may be asked to complete a survey after you see the doctor.

Each doctor will be taking a turn and asking their patients to return to reception to complete a survey on our new tablet.

The reception team will be happy to help for those who are less familiar with a tablet.

The survey shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes to complete and is very useful feedback for the Practice and the individual GP.

Credit/Debit cards

The Practice now accepts the following credit and debit cards for non-NHS services:

Visa Debit

Visa Credit

Mastercard Debit

Mastercard Credit

Maestro

Visa Commercial – Debit card only

Hayfever

Hay fever is one of the most common allergic conditions affecting one in five people at some point in their life and unfortunately, it is during the Summer months that it surfaces. It is an allergy to pollen and the symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes.

Many people find their symptoms improve as they get older. Symptoms disappear completely in around 10-20% of people.

There is currently no cure for hay fever but most people are able to relieve symptoms with treatment to a certain extent. Treatment options include antihistamines which can help prevent an allergic reaction from occurring. Steroids are sometimes recommended to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Most hay fever cases can be controlled with over-the-counter medication from the pharmacy, however if you feel your hay fever is more troublesome, it may be worth speaking to a GP as you may require prescribed medication.

Some self-help tips:

· Wearing sunglasses outdoors to stop pollen reaching your eyes

· Take a shower after being outdoors to remove unwanted pollen from your body

· Apply a small amount of Vaseline to the nasal opening to trap pollen grains.

Ardersier branch

Ardersier branch surgery operates from 8.30am -5.30pm Monday to Friday (Closed Thursday from 2pm) and ever 2nd Wednesday evening 6pm -8pm.

Over the last month, GPs treated 317 patients in the Ardersier branch surgery. Nurses dealt with 130 patients and the Health Care Assistants saw 152 patients.

Video cameras installed at Nairn A96 junctions

This evening a video camera was being installed at the Waverley Road/Manse Road A96 junction. The guy installing the camera told the Gurn that he had also installed three others at nearby junctions. 

Dave Stewart MSP upset his request for 50 mph limit for HGVs on A96 turned down

Not everyone in the Labour Party is occupied with their full scale civil war emanating from Westminster. Dave Stewart has other things on his mind. Here's a press release we received:

Highlands, Islands and Moray MSP, David Stewart, who is also a seasoned road safety campaigner, has been advised by the Minister for Transport, Humza Yousaf, that the Government have no plans to consider an increase in HGV speed for the A96. 

“I wrote to the Minister back on 24th May 2016, suggesting a pilot HGV speed increase from 40mph to 50mph, similar to that on the A9, would help reduce frustration and as a direct result road collisions,” said David Stewart. 

“From previous work I have done with experts at the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) I am advised that if you reduce the difference between the speed of vehicles then the traffic flows smoother. For example, on the A9 if cars travel at 60mph and HGV’s 50mph, on non dual carriageway sections, the speed differential is 10mph. However, if cars can legally travel at 60mph and HGV’s at only 40mph then the differential is larger and there is more likelihood of congestion and congestion equals frustration which contributes to road collisions.”

“In his reply to me, the Minister states ‘one life lost is one too many and as you may be aware inappropriate speed is a major cause of death or injury on roads’.

“Of course excessive speed is a contributory factor, but I am not talking about excessive speed, I am talking about a balanced approach and increasing the HGV speed on the A96 by 10mph,” said David Stewart.

“I am disappointed that this Minister and his predecessor keep peddling the line that the Department of Transport’s impact assessment for the rises in HGV speed in England and Wales forecasts an increase in fatal and serious road collisions. The expert from the Transport Research Laboratory whom I am dealing with, advised me that ‘In order to fully assess the potential safety risk of increasing the speed limit of HGVs on single carriageway de-restricted roads, large samples of accident data for all injury severities would need to be combined with behavioural studies, traffic flow simulations and injury risk curves. However, not all this data is available and other information sources would require extensive research.” outside the scope of this study.’

‘Basically, an overall impact assessment of all roads combined is unlikely to be accurate enough to understand the effect of a universal speed limit change; instead analysis is necessary on a road by road basis to take account of the characteristics of each road.’

David Stewart went on to say “The bottom line is that the Government have no desire or motivation to ease congestion on the A96 until the route is dualled by 2030, so in effect they are happy that commuters and other users just get on with it for another 14 years. The increase in speed of HGV’s on the A9 has contributed to a reduction of road casualties on that route, even although the Government and the A9 Road Safety Group only want to highlight what they call the success of the average speed cameras. With that in mind and my knowledge that reducing the differential between the speed of vehicles eases congestion, I plan on continuing my work and that of my team on this issue and I will look for support from businesses, hauliers and other road users.”

Gilliam McWilliam resigns from Board at Nairn County FC

The Club's facebook page states:

Crafters across Scotland come together for charity auction for Nairn boy

Nairn business Crafty Wee Birdie Gift Shop has teamed up with Forfar business knittykittybangbang to run a charity online auction for local Nairn lad, Hamish.

Hamish is a brave wee boy from Nairn who has already been through so much in his life. At a young age he was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic aleveola rhabomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer. He underwent lots of treatment including pioneering surgery called rotationplasty, which involved the middle section of his leg being removed.

Hamish, now 7, has now been diagnosed with a DIPG (brain stem tumour) and his family have been working hard to raise money for 2 charities which have helped them and many families in the same position - Glasgow Children’s Hospital and Calum’s Cabin.

Iona Hampson, owner of Crafty Wee Birdie, explains 'Hamish's family are great supporters of local crafters and when I heard about their fundraising efforts I had to do something to help. I emailed my suppliers asking if they'd like to be a part of things and got a huge positive response! Crafters from Orkney to Newton Stewart in the borders wanted to donate items, we've even had something come in from Germany!'

The choice was made to do an online auction so that anyone, regardless of geographical location, could take part, and almost all items can be either posted out to the winner or collected from the Crafty Wee Birdie Gift Shop in Nairn. Items have been donated at every possible price point – from under £10 to an original artwork by artist Moira Third valued at £70, and a £50 gift voucher from Quinney's Antique Jewellery.

The auction will ‘go live’ at 6pm on Wednesday 29th June, and bidding will close at 9pm on the same night. For more information visit www.facebook.com/craftyweebirdiegiftshop

GO #TEAMHAMISH!

At least 1500 plus Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch voters want another Euro Referendum

A UK wide petition for another referendum now has more than two million signatures. One of our regular readers, Brian, sent us a link. The petition states:

"We the undersigned call upon HM Government to implement a rule that if the remain or leave vote is less than 60% based a turnout less than 75% there should be another referendum."

A bit hopeful perhaps and remember a Scottish Devolution referendum in 1979 was front loaded with an amendment:

"An amendment to the Act stipulated that it would be repealed if fewer than 40% of the total electorate voted Yes in the referendum. The result was that 51.6% supported the proposal, but with a turnout of 64%, this represented only 32.9% of the registered electorate. The Act was subsequently repealed." More on Wikipedia here. 

Hard to see how you can go back and change the rules retrospectively in a democracy. It was done beforehand in 79 and even that left a bad taste in its wake. 

Anyway there is a map linked from the petition page that shows that there are plenty of people signing in Scotland with over 1500 in our parliamentary constituency and over a 1,000 in Moray where the result was very close. The situation is moving very fast and who knows what will happen tomorrow let alone Monday or in a fortnight's time, all sorts coming out of the Euroref Pandora's box now.

Summer football scores at the riverside today

A sunny football fiesta this afternoon down at the riverside and a good crowd in attendance. A Community kids showcase first, then County fans took on their Rothes opposite numbers. The fun culminated in a legends match between County and Rothes. Afterwards Club Chairman Donald Matheson made a presentation to the Rothes captain. 

Playing in the Nairn Legends team was Hearts legend John Robertson. Here he is pictured with Nairn's Steven (Tessa) Sanderson who got at least six goals today we believe. 

Woman in Nairn loses £26,000 to scammers - Police warning

9 ways you can help Nairn County FC

Survey night 2: Childminder services Nairn

One of our regular readers Rebecca hopes to soon be launching a childminding business. The name of her venture is "Woodland Friends".  She has sent us the link to a survey on childminding/childcare services locally.

 You can find her 10 question survey here. 

Survey night 1: Make the regeneration of the Riverside Play Park a reality

Leopold Street "Well if you ever plan to motor west Just take my way that's the highway that's the best" Route 66 opening in August according to social media page

Sandy and Jean Morrison announce on Facebook:



More information here. 

County fans fund raising weekend coming up Friday evening 24th and Saturday 25th June - posters below for further details

Solstice sunset 20th June 2016 on Nairn Beach - video

The quality of midsummer light was quite something last night, it was rather cloudy in the west but it didn't spoil the magic of the moment. Quite a few images were published on twitter last night, here's one from Nigel here that captures the quality of light over the town at 11.12 pm. 

Nairn Coastguard find unexploded WW2 ordinance on Culbin beach

Future wine bar in the High Street looking for a name

Dolphins - Shorewatch training day on Saturday 25th June at Nairn Sailing Club

Dolphin watcher David Shaw told the Gurn

"I enjoy being out along the coast and watching dolphins in the Moray Firth. Last June my wife and I saw an advert for a free training day in Nairn to enable us to become Shorewatchers and it was one of the best things that we have done for ourselves in recent years. A Shorewatcher is a volunteer for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and we undertake to do regular, but short, watches for dolphins and other cetaceans from fixed points around the Scottish coast, one of these watch points being near the Leisure Centre in Nairn. One of the things that attracted me to becoming a Shorewatcher is that we do not work to a rota, we just turn up whenever it suits us and do a watch.

Over the last year I have learned a lot about the dolphins of the Moray Firth and visited other Shorewatch locations, including one on Lewis. A few weeks ago some of us made a trip up to John O’ Groats to watch Orca. I get a lot of enjoyment from being on the coast observing the dolphins and I am also contributing to what is called citizen science. My sightings are all logged into a database and the information is used to monitor the health of the Moray Firth dolphins and to help contractors who may be working in the Firth, eg for the undersea cable about to be laid from the offshore windfarm at Wick to Keith in Moray.

The next Shorewatch training day will be held on Saturday June 25 at the Nairn Sailing Club and runs from 10:30 to 3pm. Teas and biscuits are provided but you should bring your own packed lunch. The training is given by Katie Dyke from the Scottish Dolphin Centre at Spey Bay and you should contact Katie in advance to secure a place. 

Contact Katie by telephoning 01343 820339 or by email at shorewatch@whales.org.

Come along and give it a try, I am very pleased that I did."

David also tells us in connection with reports of a dead porpoise on the West Beach that featured in social media posts locally this weekend:

"On Saturday lunchtime one of the Leisure Centre staff advised us that he had seen a dead porpoise on the shore, just east of The Golf View, that morning and reported it. Carol and myself went along and took a couple of photos which I posted on the 'Shorewatch' FB page and, at the same time, I telephoned the responsible body Scottish Marine Animals Stranding Scheme (SMASS) who advised that they had already been notified and were visiting in the afternoon. The SMASS inspection is to see if they want the carcass for a post-mortum but given the bloated condition of this mammal I suspect that they would just have requested the Council to remove it. Whether or not that has happened yet, I don't know.

To report dead marine animals the finder should telephone SMASS at 01463 243030. "

This is just sooooo good - love it - well done all those that helped create this fantastic mural!

Nairn mural project finished and looking bright in the sunshine #positivecorners #partnership pic.twitter.com/g3TsPktJos

— Youth Highland (@youthhighland1) June 18, 2016

Fantastic! Yes your time is now. Well done!

Quiet on the Gurn? Have a look at the Gurn twitter account for news too.

It's Gurnshire Summer Time so this observer is a bit busy out and about. Service may be a little slimmer but there is usually something interesting happening out there on twitter.

 Tweets by @GurnNurn

Nairn Academy DofE award Belize Blog

Words and pictures from the pupils involved:

Cawdor Community Council AGM and some very nice coffee and cake afterwards

Monday night saw Cawdor Community Council’s AGM and handling the brief interregnum when the office bearers stood down to be re-elected was Highland Councillor Roddy Balfour. Also present in the Community Centre were Cllrs Kate Stephen and Michel Green, either of the two of them could have presided over that part of the event but they preferred to see Roddy to do that part of the business given the very obvious and genuine warmth that those Cawdor area citizens in the room at the Centre felt for the veteran member. It’ll be all change soon and perhaps the Cawdor folkies might wonder if they will receive as much attention from the existing Nairn members as they have had from the diligent attendance records of Roddy and Kate. Time will tell if the return of Cawdor to Nairnshire will prompt big turnouts from our four Nairn Councillors for this bimonthly Monday night fixture. 

Re-elected chair Stevie Webster thanked the former interim chair, Meg Robertson, for the time and commitment she dedicated to the Council. He said that the biggest issue had been the White Bridge, which “carried big concerns for local people and businesses. A consultation raised in the community centre raised some very big questions as well as some truthful answers. A dedicated group was set up with regular meetings held in the Cawdor Estate office in order to keep everyone concerned updated.” He added that the weight limit was causing some disruption and went on, “however it is accepted that a new bridge will be built and funding has been allocated to this. We hope this will not be in the too distant future.”

He mentioned that work on the original application for Tom na Clach had been started with “Lizzie Rose putting on her willies and cutting the turf last week.” 

Gurnites will probably be aware of the latest situation with Tom na Clach and the latest decision from Highland Council Iain Ramage of the Press and Journal recently reported:

“A windfarm developer has six weeks to put a shovel in the ground at the site of a proposed scheme or miss a chance to build it.

Highland councillors gave the ultimatum yesterday despite planning officers recommending that more time be allowed for Infinergy to begin work on the controversial Tom nan Clach project on Dava Moor, between Nairn and Grantown.” More here. 

So given the recent decision it was probably safe to surmise that Cllr Michael Green is probably not the most popular Highland Councillor of the Nairn bunch at the moment with the Cawdor supporters of the wind farm project, given the part he played in that recent decision. He was cordially received however although there must have been a temptation for the community councillors not to alert him to come back into the room when discussion of a local planning matter had finished (councillors on the planning committee are in the habit of leaving the room when “live” planning matters are being discussed). 

A regular attendee at the Cawdor CC meetings is Infinergy’s Fiona Milligan. Not long after Michael Green was invited back into the room she spoke:

“Firsty I would like to thank this community and the councillors here representing this community all the way through this process since 2008 or earlier in fact, for its unstinting support for this project. You have been able to see the benefits of it quite clearly, whereas others have not. We have been through the mill with the planning applications committee who have again, twice this year, have ignored their expert planning officers’ advice and recommendations and gone against us but we carry on because we do believe that this is a very worthwhile project and as we always said, we would start this month and we did and thank you everyone who came along last week.”

There was a little more business to be done and then it was time for coffee and some very tasty cakes indeed. Even Michael Green was offered a cuppa too.

The minor injuries unit at ‪Nairn Town and County Hospital will be closed from 7pm tonight (14th June) until 8:30am tomorrow.

NHS Highland inform us:

"The minor injuries unit at ‪Nairn Town and County Hospital will be closed from 7pm tonight (14th June) until 8:30am tomorrow.

Anyone who requires the service during this time is asked to go to Raigmore Hospital.

This will not affect contacting the out of hours service which people can still access by calling 01667 452096.

We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause."

Cancer hitting family members inspires local man to get on his bike and organise a coffee morning fundraiser too.

Nairn resident David Osborne told the Gurn: 

"A few months ago I got a call from Dad who informed me that he has Prostate cancer which came as a huge shock to the family. Having lost my Uncle and my Granddad  to cancer over the past few years I decided it was about time I got out there and raised some money for Cancer research. One of the things I am doing is a 121 mile cycle on August 13th from Perth to my Home in Nairn and considering I only started cycling when I got the news this is going to be a huge challenge but one I am relishing and hope to complete in one day. I have set up a just giving page to aid this  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/David-Osborne2016. I referee in the Forres & Nairn welfare league and I would like to thank the teams Nairn United, Uncle Bobs for their sponsorship also as well as the elgin teams that have contributed and everyone who has supported me so far it really is appreciated."

David Osborne

David, also a goalkeeping coach for Nairn County, continued: "Along with doing the cycle I have arranged to hold a coffee morning at Whinnieknowe gardens where I will be holding a raffle draw to aid in the fundraising with some great donations from some local companies including Macks diner, Lochloy Caravan park, Swansons, Chivas, Diageo, Landmark, Highland Delicatessen, Eilean Dubh Fine Foods, the Inside Scoop, Clachnacuddin F.C, Torvean golf club and if any other companies would like to donate then they can get in touch."

Jacko's runners up in Welfare League Ally Ross Rosebowl 5-4 thriller final - missed it? Never mind you can still watch it online

The final between Jacko's and Kinloss Sappers and the awards ceremony were broadcast live on social media. You can see the first half, second half here and the award of the trophy here on the Welfare League facebook page.  

Nairn Academy win 2015/16 Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament held in the Scottish Parliament

Local MSP Fergus Ewing was quick to congratulate, Caitlin Sherrett and Finlay Allmond the winners from Nairn Academy.

The winners. Caitlin & Finlay @nairnacademy presented with the trophy @ScotParl Fantastic achievement #Nairn pic.twitter.com/3O76aWvfcd

— Fergus Ewing MSP (@FergusEwingMSP) June 9, 2016

You can see Catlin and Finlay on the Scottish Parliament TV pages here. Catlin at 1.26.40 into the video and Finlay at 1.39.45. The prize is awarded to the Nairn Academy pupils at 3.15.54.

Edward Mountain MSP also witnessed the Nairn Academy pupils debating too he told the Gurn: "delighted to be actually in the chamber to listen to and then congratulate Caitlin and Finlay. A credit to Nairn Academy."

Nairn Children's Charities 10 Mile race and Fun Run - £10,000 raised so far and still counting

A wee message from Liz and Danny Bow:

"Thank you All,

Nairn gave us a really memorable and humbling day, it was amazing the support from such a wonderful town 762 fun runners and 57 Ten Mile runners, a united community, truly humbling and memorable day.

Without all the help from volunteers, supporters, donations, sponsors, spectators and of course participants this special event would not have been possible.

We have raised in excess of £10,000 for both charities from the event plus the amount is still accumulating. We will let everyone know the final total soon."

More images of the events here on the Gurn Flickr pages

Have you seen Alison McDiarmid? - Police appeal

Bobo launches County Fans Fund

Sunday's 10 miler and Fun Run - a few images we misplaced

Here's a few more that didn't get uploaded correctly



Individual images here. 

Courthouse Nairn - sunlit Brexit outfit hit High Street

Will the sun be shining for the leave believers on June 24th? 

Book and Arts Festival programme for 2016 launched

Sunday's Fun Run and 10 miler charity event - images from Donald Matheson and Murray MacRae

A chance at last to upload images from Donald Matheson and Murray MacRae from the fantastic event that was the fund raiser Fun Run and the 10 Miler on Sunday Afternoon. Donald's images first with one of wee Hamish Hey with his mum Susan 

Individual images here.

And pictures from Murray MacRae


Individual images here. 

Pictures from Gurn photographers were posted earlier - several pages on this flickr album here. 

Water Quality Test results - the view from Iain Fairweather of Visit Nairn tourism

Iain told the Gurn:

"It’s nice to get the Keeping Scotland Beautiful Award. But the one that matters is the new regulation signage that permanently labels Nairn beaches as having “Poor bathing water quality”. The three responsible bodies, Highland Council, SEPA and Scottish Water, have had their meeting and in their press release they tell us they are all doing a fine job. Their view seems to be that the water quality today is no worse than it was yesterday. Maybe, but we didn’t have signs yesterday. For us in tourism, everything is not fine and the bodies responsible have failed to grasp the significance of a tourism beach designated as having poor bathing water. It is completely disingenuous to declare that they will “focus on the risks” or that they can “support new bathing water objectives”. The agencies see signage as the answer to poor water quality - in other words, "let people know when it’s not safe to swim". For us in tourism, signage highlights a serious problem. And it’s not the electronic prediction advice signs. It’s the official signage permanently displayed on Central and East beaches, saying “Poor bathing water quality”. The problem is one of perception and sends out a message that Nairn beach isn’t safe. The signs tell us that all three responsible bodies have failed Nairn. They have failed to improve water quality despite having a clear remit to do so.

Water quality readings over the past few years indicated a developing problem. SEPA state the following on their web site: "Results indicate that mainly human sources are likely to be contributing to affect bathing water quality.” They also say that they have known this since 2003! So what have they been doing for 13 years? If more had been done, there may not have been a requirement for signage under the much more stringent EU regulations now in place. But the new regulation signs let everyone off the hook and offer an escape route rather than force agencies to address the problem. They are content to live with signs. We are not. SEPA are going to conduct further tests this year to see if agricultural run-off is the problem - again. But it’s not cow-pats we see bursting out of the sewers after heavy rainfall. 

SEPA state in the press release: "A few very severe rainfall incidents pushed the water quality into the ‘poor’ category. We need to focus on risks and managing these occasional issues”. The causal factors may only be occasional but for Nairn beaches to be permanently labelled ‘poor’ is totally unacceptable for a tourism-based economy. SEPA have a remit under the Scottish Government to improve water quality. Yes, the bar has been raised but it hasn’t come as a surprise. Water quality targets have been missed year on year. SEPA still make allowances for the dumping of raw sewage in extreme conditions - an implicit acceptance that, at certain times, the system cannot cope. Highland Council and Scottish Water have a joint responsibility for sewage and storm water. Businesses and the community at large, rightly expect that a sewage system should be be able to cope at all times. 

Scottish Water state in the press release: “We’ve completed a number of studies which indicate that the current sewerage system can support the new bathing water objectives”. Indeed, but only alongside the permanent beach designation of ‘poor bathing water quality’. It may “support the new bathing water objectives” - but “Poor” is not an acceptable standard for Nairn beaches! Scottish Water also say that “no one agency can deliver actions required to meet the new bathing waters’s ‘excellent’ standard on its own". Being positive, we take this to mean that the problem can be solved if all the agencies work together. So what is stopping you?

For a tourism-based economy, where the beaches are our greatest asset, we demand that these agencies work towards delivering quantifiable improvements. The signs not only provide bathing advice. They also stand as beacons shining a light onto past failure and inaction over known issues. They reveal agencies sleep-walking into what was an avoidable scenario. So please, no more hitting the ball into the long grass. No more hiding behind regulations that give you the wriggle-room to do nothing. ‘Poor’ clearly indicates that you are not trying hard enough. We call on all agencies to immediately embark on a programme of improvement and implement actions that lead to the return of a beach designated as ‘Excellent’. It can be done and we will settle for nothing less."

Water seen in the paddling pool!

Thanks to regular reader Pam for this picture. Pam wonders if the paddling pool could be open soon. We've certainly got the weather. 

Carnival atmosphere in town as massive turnout for fun run and 10 mile races hits the road - pictures

The charity fun run and 10 mile races really brought the town alive today with some pretty good music playing too. Here's just a couple of pictures from today's events with many, many more to be uploaded when time permits. Check the Gurn flickr pages later or in the morning for more images. 

A few hundred images now up on Flickr here, many more to come. Anyone who couldn't make it today can still donate online here. The race and the fun run were held to raise funds for Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, and Calums cabin.

More details here.

Update: 1200 images of a wonderful afternoon now posted on the Gurn flickr pages and another 650 to follow today.

Update: that's nearly 1800 up now from Gurn photographers. More to come from Murray MacRae and Donald Matheson later. 

Staying at Brodie Castle - a bit of a write up in the Spectator

More here. 

Good news for Nairn Beach - The Keep Scotland Beautiful flag flies today

This Sunday afternoon (5th of June) there's a lot happening in the High Street - why not c'mon down? - 10 mile race, fun run, music, stalls, etc, etc.

It's not just the 10 miler race and the fun run there will be other activities in the High Street on Sunday afternoon. 

Liz Bow told the Gurn:

"This is our 4th year organising the event and Nairn have been amazing in supporting it, contributing, participating and making it a great fun family event,

for such wonderful children's charities, raising money for charities that provide care and respite respectively for young people and their loved ones — the Glasgow Sick Children’s Hospital and Calum’s Cabin.These charities are very close to our hearts, are particularly significant this year.  Hamish our grandson, aged 7 has cancer and receives treatment at the Sick Children’s Hospital, and the family have enjoyed family respite breaks at Calum’s Cabin on Bute. 

The feedback is overwhelming already, Rosebank School have 130 children & staff taking part clubs and organisations are also planning to come along. We have lots of entertainment and activities, music on the High Street — where the races start and finish — a cake and candy stall, refreshments, transfers & face painting, and the prize-giving all at the community centre afterwards.

There will be medals for all the children participating in the Fun Run.

Registration for the Fun Run (£3 per child, £10 for a family of four or more) and 10-Mile Race is at Nairn Community & Arts Centre at 1pm. All children of eight years and under who want to take part in the Fun Run must be accompanied by an adult.

The fun run starts at 2.15pm and the 10-Mile Race, part of the North District Championships, at 2.00pm.

For those who are unable to attend on the day, but would still like to make a donation, a fundraising page has been set up at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=nairncharityrun "

County launches new Fans Fund

Ardersier residents vow to continue fighting "cruel and destructive" planning

Residents in Ardersier have vowed to keep fighting Scottish Water over their plans to impose a new waste water treatment plant on their beach.

An information event was held on Wednesday 1st June by Scottish Water and representatives from Moray Estates were present but villagers were left with more questions than answers. 

Local campaigner Isla O’Reilly said “It’s a classic tale of big developers and public bodies riding roughshod over local communities. Scottish water made a strategic decision about where the waste for the development of the A96 corridor will go without proper consideration or consultation to the residents of our village. There were other sites evaluated in 2007 and we urge them to go back to the drawing board.”

In 2007 a study was commissioned by the Scottish Water Development Group on behalf of The Highland Council. The options were evaluated on cost and risk and, in accordance with client instructions, the only consultations were with SEPA. 

Then in 2011 they secured planning permission from the Highland Council which did not give due consideration or attention to the objections raised by the community council. At the planning committee meeting in 2011 Mr B Wynd stated that “the application was premature as there was additional waste water treatment capacity available in the area at Allanfearn, with space available for future expansion of that facility and the business case had not been made for new build at Ardersier.” He was advised that “the issue of there being additional capacity elsewhere in the locality was not a relevant planning reason for refusing the application. That was a business issue for Scottish Water.”

Villagers on Wednesday were told that Scottish Water wanted to work with the community to mitigate and minimise any smell or disruption from the increased traffic, construction works and ongoing operation.

Isla O’Reilly replied “It’s not good enough. We do not want the plant here. Our narrow roads and historic buildings will not cope with 24 lgv and 4 hgv trips a day. Our tourism and quality of life will be affected by this decision.”

Support for the petition on and off line has soared over 2,000 and the biggest high profile supporter Dame Helen Mirren released the following statement in support.

“It is with absolute horror that I heard about the proposed sewage plant at Ardersier. I know of Ardersier because I got married there and therefore know first-hand the kindness and generosity of the people of this little village.

This is a small and authentic community, rooted in the landscape and the sea. The people of Ardersier have lived there for generations, quietly getting on with their lives, working within the environment. Ardersier is not one of the famed beauty spots of Scotland; if it were, there would rightly be a huge outcry against this plan. However, Ardersier is as important to the history and beauty of Scotland as Loch Lomond or Fort William or any of the great tourist attractions, because Ardesier is quietly where the real Scotland is. 

This proposal is destructive to this way of life, to a piece of Scottish History and to the environment. Please support the people of Ardersier in their fight against cruel and destructive planning.”

Very good turnout for County fans meeting in the Legion tonight - question time for Ian Finlayson and Donald Matheson

This observer went up to the Legion tonight and there was a very good turnout for the fans meeting. Despite the sudden loss of the main sponsors there is optimism going forward and a desire for openness, transparency and to reconnect with the Highland League family. A difficult time ahead but the strength of the support behind this club was palpable tonight. Another meeting in a month's time for update on situation as new directors find their feet. More later probably from club meejah about how Ian Finlayson and Donald Matheson responded to a wide range of questions from the floor. 

Plenty more on the Nairn County media pages here or the facebook page. If you are a potential sponsor please contact the club here. If you have even just a few quid to spare please head over to the County Fans fundraising page on Facebook or the online donation funder here. CTID.

Nairn County FC - keeping it clean.

Green MSP to host Holyrood meeting on controversial Ardersier waste water treatment plant

The Highlands and Islands’ Green MSP John Finnie has secured a meeting with Scottish Water bosses to discuss their controversial plans for a new waste water treatment plant in Ardersier. The talks will take place at the Scottish Parliament next Wednesday (8 June), and Scottish Water have agreed to invite all other Highlands and Islands MSP, and the member for the Inverness and Nairn constituency, rural economy minister Fergus Ewing.

Mr Finnie has given his support to the community campaign against the plans, which would see the historic village of just over 1000 residents become home to a sewage treatment plant intended to serve thousands of homes in developments along the A96 corridor.

Mr Finnie said:

“I’m glad I’ll be able to put the community’s objections to the waste plant directly to Scottish Water.

“Ardersier is an historic village with narrow roads and many houses dating back to the 18th century. Buildings are already suffering structural damage from coaches and military traffic to Fort George, and heavy construction traffic would cause very serious harm.

“The village’s growing tourist economy is highly dependent on its beautiful coastal environment. The beach is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the land adjacent to the planned works is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. All this could be put at risk by the proposals.

“Scottish Water say the waste treatment works shouldn’t smell if it is working properly – most who have the misfortune to live near one know that that is a big ‘if’.

“Ardersier is just an inappropriate location for this development, so I’ll be urging Scottish Water to re-examine the alternatives.”

Peanut's home!

Peanut has been found safe although a bit thinner, he had been locked in a garage for a couple of day's. Fred and Lemmy are still missing so please keep an eye out for them.