23rd March 2018 UPDATE: Poll now removed from Nairn River Community Council Facebook page. We understand it may return however in a format containing more information and an indication to social media users that the best means of ensuring their voices are heard on this or other planning applications is to make comments officially on the Highland Council e-planning pages.
Follow The Link below if you have a Facebook account and vote in the River CC poll.
Follow The Link below if you have a Facebook account and vote in the River CC poll.
So far a massive surge in support for the planning application. Perhaps an indication of how large retail development has been prevented outside the town centre for so long until in recent years when Sainsbury's arrived. Here at the Gurn we have no interest whatever in the McDonalds but whatever the rights and wrongs of it it this observer suspects that many people, especially the young, will be in favour of this development. There is also discussion on the popular Nairn Rocks Facebook page.
I am totally against McDonalds, how anyone can eat their products and have a guilt free conscience is beyond me. They have an abominable record regarding the way they treat their staff, and most of their food is full of fat and sugar. Nairn does not need a junk food restaurant, a lot of people may want it, but they obviously do not give much thought to what they consume.They are a major contributor to the obesity problem in this country, and it's about time an example was set in refusing planning permission. There are also planning issues to consider, traffic, sewerage etc.
ReplyDeleteIt's up to the individual what they feed themselves. If they are obease, that is their fault not MacDonalds, these people can be seen in sainsburys bypassing the fruit and veg isles, buying premade pies full of salt, sugar and shite, frozen chips and other crap. If they are over weight it's the televisions fault as they would rather sit and stuff faces watching brain washing nonsense instead of going for a walk. The major factor in obisety is actually laziness and greed, not MacDonalds. It would bring more jobs to nairn which is a great thing, nobody is forcing you to eat there. I would like fresh air and non polluted food but previous generations have ruined the land with chemicals. Traffic is shite anyway, but if you live in nairn and need something in nairn, your legs will carry you there, or a bicycle. that's your traffic problem solved.
DeleteThis evening more than 790 folk have voted in a facebook poll and 87% are in favour of the application anon. I thought there would be a majority but it looks like there is a lot of support for this planning application.
ReplyDeleteI think MacDonalds will be a great asset to the town.
ReplyDeleteLoons will stuff their faces with the crap food they sell and die earlier than the rest of us.
A whole new generation of bairns will grow used to eating unhealthy salty fatty fast food.
As it's a drive through customers will be able to become even fatter as they won't have to get out of their cars to collect their orders.
There will probably be around 20 p/t zero hour burger flipper jobs who will earn so little they'll probably all be living with their folks.
Litter around the town will increase, especially at the harbour area (if it ever reopens)
The only winner will be the person who owns the franchise
Home Bargains and a MacDonalds. Quality
ReplyDeleteLets hope they will be asked to contribute to wards a bridge from LOCHLOY over the railway line for people to get to and from easily and quicker
ReplyDelete@The Jacobite
ReplyDeleteIt's have to be a road bridge as MacMurders will be a drive through. My bet is on money for another ten sets of traffic lights
A good portion of existing eateries in Nairn serve unhealthy food, or wish you to wash it down with unhealthy alcohol. I presume the health brigade on this thread were up in arms over James' ice cream parlour too
ReplyDeleteI attended the Nairn River Community Council meting last night and this Facebook poll was not discussed. The NRCC have not endorsed this poll, and the result will in no way sway the carefully considered position taken by the NRCC on this matter. The implications on the wider community will be taken into consideration along with any potential benefits.
ReplyDeleteIf the government both in Scotland and the UK is so pro healthy eating then why are they allowing Mac D's to open more franchises across the country serving up the very foods they are trying to limit us to eating. Seems like hypocrisy to the extreme. As for the FB poll or "fake" FB poll, we all know lots of people out there in FB land who would happily dance with the devil if they thought that was the trend and you cannot argue with someone who can't see the bigger picture. I can only hope that some of the shops in Nairn start selling bigger jogging (grey trendy ones) bottoms as there could soon be a bigger market in Nairn shortly.
ReplyDeleteOver 1100 people voted in that poll, say what you like about Facebook but such polls are one person one vote. It was running at 86% pro application.
ReplyDeleteI was interested to read some of the Facebook comments with regard to the proposed MacDonald's outlet, more jobs for Nairn seemed to be one comment.
ReplyDeleteAll of us only have so much money in our pockets so if we go with the convenience of the drive thru then High Street food venues are going to suffer. Load on parking charges and you'll have a double negative impact on our High Street.
I know the attraction of MacDonalds is strong for some people. Near identical food available at any outlet in the world. They have a huge marketing and advertising budget as well.
I can see this potentially closing some of our current food outlets so the likelihood is that there won't be more jobs in the town, just more empty premises.
Still, it's good to see people supporting a large US corporation, I'm sure they need out money.
I'm sure a majority of Nairnites would prefer a Lidl store to a Home Bargains, save us all going through to Forres
ReplyDeleteCancer Research UK has just stated that quitting bad lifestyle habits (smoking, obesity & alcohol) could cut cancer rates in Scotland by more than 40%, & that Scotland has the largest number of preventable cancers in the UK.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-43506418
So we have increased taxes on tobacco products, minimum pricing on alcohol, possible restrictions on the number of premises which sell alcohol in certain areas, & the new sugar tax on drinks.
I don't smoke, but the hand full of UK craft beers that I drink over the year will increase in price. My squash drinks now have less sugar & more chemicals (artificial sweetener Asulfame K) in them to lower the sugar content to below the 5g sugar tax level. My other organic squash drinks will increase in price as no artificial sweeteners are allowed!By the way, Asulfame K etc. are worse for you than pure sugar.
However there does not appear to be any incentive to stop people stuffing their faces 24/7 with junk food! I strongly suggest you watch the old 2004 film "Super size me" where a man only eats at MacDonalds for 30days.
Huff post article on it..
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/how-bad-is-mcdonalds-food_b_754814.html
Personally I think the regional NHS trusts should be able to veto certain fast food outlets in their areas as they are ones who have to deal with the consequences of people using them long term, i.e. obesity etc..
As for Home Bargains, that will affect Argos (Sainsburys), & Nickle & Dime.
Agreed 1100 people did "vote" on this "fake" poll. One has to think why and who put on this fake poll and for what reason and is FB really the future of voting. How many people reside within Nairn and its boundaries, many many more thousands who are probably lucky enough to stay of FB and think for themselves. Also I stand by my point, if the UK and Scottish governments are so hell bent on making us healthy why would they allow this to go ahead. Some valid points from a few folk here. Employment was mentioned, whens the last time the regular fast food junkies went to Mac D or Burger King and got served by the same person twice....ever. As for the money, they'll take it alright and back to their huge corporation. All their stock is brought in also, its not as if they are buying any of our local produce like many of our current local food outlets try to do.
ReplyDeleteHappily respect everyones your opinion Nairn A, can't help but think its a can of worms. I like living in the highlands because certain things are missing. Car park charges are another one lol All the best.
@anon, re "a right slagging" on social media. Would you be willing to be more specific? Where you at the meeting too?
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense. After all Ronald MacDonald lives in Boath Park.
ReplyDeletePackage it with the "by-pass" and divert all traffic thru the drive-thru" with delays you'll have plenty time to order and eat before you get through the lights.
ReplyDeleteAppreciation to my father who informed me on the topic of this web site, this webpage is genuinely
ReplyDeleteamazing.
whatever the outcome is, I hope that the rubbish generated by another fast-food outlet will be taken into account. I live in Inverness and daily I am picking up rubbish that has been thrown from cars. Just the right distance for the 'food' and 'drinks' to have been consumed. The rubbish is astonishing. Plastic forks, plastic spoons, wax covered cardboard cups with single use plastic lids. Plastic straws and other detritus. It is disgusting. There are bins enroute on this road and yet, most people just open the car windows and chuck the rubbish out with no thought of who will be picking it up. I really feel for Nairn. You have a beautiful town and just over one mile to the East of the proposed site is the Auldearn by-pass. Good luck to whoever has to pick up the rubbish if this plan gets consent to go ahead. The Councils cannot afford to pay street cleaners any more. The rubbish will end up in the small burns, in the gunnels and in the Primary School playing fields no doubt. I am all for expansion, but MacDonalds, seriously?
ReplyDeleteFacebook is hardly a scientific way of measuring feeling... yes People want a Macdonald’s and home bargains, it’s something different, new and cheap. What they don’t realise is that others will be put out of a job and nairn will be just like any other town.
ReplyDeletePost the numerous Sainsbury's traffic lights Nairn has really suffered from traffic congestion, the new stores will only add to the problem. The bypass is years off, if ever. Improve traffic matters and then look at adding more attractions.
ReplyDelete@Anon 7:41 AM
ReplyDeleteFat, sugar and salt, the 'tasty' ingredients in fast food have been proven to be addictive. If you started with a stack of raw ingredients at home you'd he horrified to see how much fat, sugar and salt you had to add to make meals as attractive as many fast food outlets.
A can of cola has roughly the same amount of sugar and salt (6 teaspoonfuls of each). The sodium (salt) is there to counter the amount of sugar. But heh, who cares. It all tastes nice and a McD is cheap, doesn't involve any cooking or food shopping, and the kids love it. Happy fattiness