Team Hamish and NICE "Vision for Nairn" Initial project plan now published

The potential of Team Hamish working with NICE and the fledgling BID to finally kick start regeneration of Nairn has been outlined in a document now available online on the group's site. Reports and initiatives have come and gone (usually to gather dust on a shelf somewhere) or to await a further reinvention of the wheel a few years later. It is usually about suits coming into town with powerpoint presentations telling us what is good for us. Now it is time for home grown talent to take the lead, will the incredibile potential of allowing this community to do it's own thing finally be unleashed with this project being allowed to be the driving force for regeneration of Nairn, with the backing and good will of the many willing and talented folk able to put their shoulders to the wheel? 

The Introduction to the Project Plan begins:

"Nairn is widely recognised by outsiders as being ripe for regeneration as a tourist destination. It is in a location that has assets in abundance, but the town centre itself and the seafront do not offer enough to encourage visitors to stay for more than a few hours or the potential to choose Nairn as a ‘return’ destination.

Over the years many ideas have been offered, but unfortunately these have not been brought to fruition. We would suggest that previous proposals have lacked a holistic, overarching strategic master plan that encompasses all of Nairn’s assets and highlights their potentoal. Similarly, full collaboration between community bodies, voluntary groups, local businesses and the statutory authoritoes has been overlooked. This has resulted in there being limited ‘joined-up’ thinking to put Nairn back on the map as a tourist destination and revitalised for the benefit of its Community as a whole. 

We believe that a number of recent key developments make this moment in time the perfect opportunity to begin enhancing Nairn.

 The BID, now approved, will play a critical role in Nairn’s future, and will be the local businesses’ contribution to its regeneration. "

More here. 

Fancy becoming a volunteer driver for the Community Minibuses?

Originally posted by Andrew Randerson on the Nairn oor Toon social media page

Goodmorning folks..

I know most if not all of you have seen the nairn community transport busses in nairn ...

And the transport do a great job for the 70 groups who use them ..but they after more people to hire them especially evening and weekends..

Did you know you can hire them like you would hire a car ? 

Do you have a dart group pool group dominoes or even an outing to a city or event etc.. well the busses maybe available to hire ..

Imagine only needing 1 responsible driver :) 

Or instead of upto 14 of you needing trains busses etc to Aberdeen invernss Glasgow etc it could well be cheaper clubbing together to hire the bus ..

As for the driver you have two options either use your own (who will need to go through an easy Midas test first. Basically it's just to prove your a safe and responsible driver if I can do it anyone can and Gary who runs it is very friendly and welcoming ) or if your lucky then the community centre maybe able to draw from its pool of volunteer drivers as they currently do for a vast amount of folk ..(If you use a volunteer driver id advise payment of a wee chokkie bar ;) ;that's me just hoping it's not mandatory lol ) 

.....so if this is maybe of Intrest to you or someone you know please pass along .as sometimes people dont know what they have on their doorstep ..

Also if at all you fancy becoming a volunteer driver hours.. times .. days commitment are all upto yourself and extremely flexible then the community transport need you ...

If you have d1 on your licence all the better but it doesn't matter as it's not needed for all the busses, a standard normal full licence is all you need ..

If any of this interests you or someone you know then please contact Nicola Mackinlay at the community centre .... :) 

Fèis chiùil Gàidhealach a' comharrachadh òigridh ceòlmhor na h-Alba le 1,000 dhiubh ann an sàr-chuirm

Chaidh am prògram airson Fèis Blas na bliadhna-sa fhoillseachadh an-diugh, a' taisbeanadh sàr chruinneachadh de luchd-ciùil bho air feadh Alba agus thar a crìochan, a bharrachd air cothromanan inntinneach do dh'òigridh a tha airson iad fhèin a chur air adhart mar luchd-ciùil agus sgrìobhaicheran-ciùil.

Tha Blas air a cho-òrdanachadh le Fèisean nan Gàidheal an com-pàirteachas ri Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd bhon 7mh-15mh dhen t-Sultain. Tha e na amas aig Blas cultar na Gàidhlig agus saoghal beothail ceòl traidiseanta na h-Alba a chomharrachadh thar naoi latha de chuirmean, cèilidhean agus tachartasan nas motha, aig diofar àiteachan air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.

Thug Blas air adhart cothroman inntinneach ùr do dh'òigridh cuid de phrìomh thachartasan fèis na bliadhna seo a dhealbh agus a lìbhrigeadh, le taic bho stòras thachartasan Bliadhna na h-Òigridh 2018, fo stiùir Roinn Thachartasan VisitScotland.

Am measg prìomh luchd-ciùil fèis na bliadhna seo, a bhios a' tachairt eadar Bheàrnaraigh is a' Chomraich, bho Phort Rìgh gu Port MoCholmaig, tha a' bhana-sheinneadair Julie Fowlis, dithis a bhuinnig Farpais Oigridh Folk BBC Rèidio 2 roimhe seo, Mischa Nic a' Phearsain agus Brìghde Chaimbeul, an còmhlan rock Ceilteach Wolfstone, a tha a' nochdadh aig Blas airson a' chiad uair, an còmhlan folk Breabach a tha air a bhith am measg nan duais iad fhèin, an còmhlan òg Ceilteach leatronaigeach, Niteworks agus an còmhlan sàr-chliùiteach RURA.

Bidh dithis shàr-Ghàidheal, Alasdair MacGillIosa agus Dolina NicIllInnein, le chèile a' comharrachadh an 80mh ceann-bliadhna le tachartasan sònraichte anns an Eilean Sgitheanach agus Leòdhas an cuideachd taghadh iomraiteach. Agus le Runrig air an t-slighe tron Mhìle mu Dheireadh, bidh Trail West a' comharrachadh ceann bliadhna air leth - 40 bliadhna bhon chaidh an clàr ainmeil agus adhartach Play Gaelic fhoillseachadh, a lìbhrigeadh ciùil bhon chlàr aig dà chuirm anns an fhèis.

Chan eil e na annas gu bheil òigridh nam pàirt chudromach de dh'fhèis Blas, ach ann am Bliadhna na h-Òigridh thèid barrachd cothrom na bha riamh ann a thoirt do dh'òigridh na Gàidhealtachd an cuid thàlantan fhoillseachadh. Bidh luchd-ciùil òga a tha a' gabhail ceumannan-toisich air an àrd-ùrlar a' nochdadh aig a' mhòr-chuid de thachartasan agus gheibh an òigridh deagh eòlas air margaidheachd agus stiùireadh thachartasan mar a bhios iad ag obair ann an suidheachaidhean le uallach airson a bhith a' cumail rian air fèis na bliadhna seo agus ga sanasachd, mar chuirm mhòr a' foillseachadh òigridh.

An déidh cuirm mhòr Ceòl nam Fèis anns a' Phàillean ann an Srath Pheofhair air Dihaoine 14 Sultain, thig Blas gu ceann aig sàr-chuirm ann am Pàirce Cruinneachaidh a Chinn a Thuath ann an Inbhir Nis an ath latha, Disathairne an 15mh; bidh barrachd air 1,000 de luchd-ciùil òga air an an tarraing bho Fhèisean air feadh na h-Alba agus buidhneanagus iomairtean-ciùil òigridh leithid Buidhnean Ciùil Òga Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd. Bidh òigridh sàr-thàlantach a' gabhail an àrd-ùrlair còmhla ri còmhlain a thagh iad fhèin, leithid buidhnean mòra ainmeil mar Skipinnish, Trail West agusBreabach còmhla ri Brìghde Chaimbeul. Thèid òran Gàidhlig ùr a chaidh a sgrìobhadh le Robbie MacLeòid a tha na oileanach ann an Glaschu, a lìbhrigeadh leis a h-uile neach-ciùil anns a' chuirm, an tachartas as motha a chaidh a chur air adhart le Fèisean nan Gàidheal nan eachdraidh thar 30 bliadhna.

Tha cothrom air leth air a thabhann do neach-ciùil og eile tron fhèis, a bhana-sheinneadair Gàidhlig Mischa Nic a' Phearsain à Leòdhas. Bidh Mischa, a bhuinnig an duais Folk ainmeil agus luachmor do dh'Òigridh aig Rèidio 2 ann an 2014, a' lìbhrigeadh a coimisean ùr, le taic bho Thorntons Investments, grunn thursan tro Bhlas. `S e cruinneachadh de dh'òrain ùra an Gàidhlig a th'a nn an Bho Èirigh gu Laighe na Grèine – Sun, Moon, Land, Life, Sea, a' gabhail a-staigh seann bhàrdachd Ghàidhlig, dealbhan agus fiolmaichean goirid.

Thuirt fear de thosgairean òga Fèis Bhlas na bliadhna seo, Lache Robinson: "Tha e dìreach sgoinneil a bhith an sàs ann a bhith a' deisealachadh airson fèis na bliadhna seo agus a bhith a' coimhead air adhart gu prògram a tha cho inntinneach agus tarraingeach, le cuid dhen luchd-ciùil òga as ainmeile a th'againn nam pàirt dheth. Tha Òran Mòr gu bhith dìreach sònraichte agus tha mi fhèin agus mo cho-oibrichean òg a' coimhead air adhart gu mòr gu bhith na mheasg agus a' frithealadh thachartasan eile tro Fhèis Bhlas."

Thuirt an Leas Phrìomh Mhinistear Iain Swinney: “Ann am Bhliadhna na h-Òigridh, tha e sònraichte a bhith a' faicinn Fèis Bhlas a' foillseachadh uibhir de thàlantan òga agus mar a thathas a' cruthachadh chothroman ùra do dh'òigridh air àrd-ùrlar agus a' tabhann chothroman dhan ath ghinealach de sgrìobhaichean agus luchd-lìbhrigidh ciùil”.

“Bidh prògram na bliadhna seo, le measgachadh air leth de chèilidhean, cuirmean agus tachartasan eile air an cruinneachadh agus an dealbh le taic bho na tosgairean òga a' cur air adhart agus a' comharrachadh cultar na Gàidhealtachd gu luchd-amhairc is èisteachd bho fhad is farsaing”.

“Tha Blas fhèin a' comharrachadh prìomh innleachd aiseag cultar na Gàidhealtachd agus tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a' gealltainn an tuilleadh taic son fàs, a bhios a' cur ri beatha cultarail na h-Alba agus a' cur ri taisbeanadh agus misneachadh na Gàidhlig ann an Alba."

Thuirt an Comhairliche Alasdair MacFhionghain, Cathraiche Buidheann Ro-innleachd agus Buileachaidh na Gàidhlig agus Cathraiche Stòras Corporra Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd: "Tha a' Chomhairle air a bhith taiceil do dh'Fhèis Blas bhon a chaidh a stèidheachadh 13 bliadhna air ais. Bha a' chiad fhèis ann an 2005, agus tha an fhèis air fàs agus tighinn air adhart, ach chaidh aig an fhèis air leantainn le bhith a' cur cultar na Gàidhlig a tha cho sònraichte aig cridhe chùisean, a' leigeil le luchd-ciùil ainmeil eadar-nàiseanta a bhith a' nochdadh air an aon àrd-ùrlar ri òigridh bhon sgìre seo fhèin. Tha prògram na bliadhna seo tarraingeach, inntinneach, agus làn foghlaim, gu h-àraidh seach gu bheil sinn a' comharrachadh Bliadhna na h-Òigridh. Tha sinn a' moladh do dhaoine a dhol gu aon tachartas aig a' char as lugha ach am faigh iad a-mach dhaibh fhèin cho sònraichte agus tlachdmhor sa tha an fhèis seo de cheòl agus cultar na Gàidhlig."

Thuirt Ann Marie Reid, Ard-Mhanaidsear Leasachaidh, Iomairtna Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean: "Tha sinn air leth toilichte a bhith a' toirt taic do dh'Fhèis Blas a tha cho cudromach mar thachartas do choimhearsnachdan air feadh Alba. Tha an fhèis a' fuasgladh chothroman do dh'òigridh an cuid thàlantan a thoirt air adhart agus am misneachd agus an sgilean a thogail, a bharrachd air a bhith gan lìbhrigeadh fhèin agus a' soillseachadh na sgìre do luchd-tadhail agus muinntir an àite fhèin ach am faigh iad cultar na Gàidhlig agus na Gàidhealtachd a chomharrachadh."

Gheibhear an làn-phrògram de na tachartasan aig www.blas-festival.com far am faighear cuideachd fiosrachadh mu cheannach thiocaidean agus, an lùib sin, lùghdachadh phrìsean mu choinneamh chairtean Young Scot.

Team Hamish meet MSP - aslo call for supporters to endorse group's ambitions at forthcoming Highland Council consultation on Links future

NRCC calls for Highland Council to work with Community and local business on plans for the Links

Nairn River Community Council state this morning on their website:

"We are calling for a joined up way forward for any future Links Development. We feel strongly that this process should not be Council led but taken forward with the Nairn community and businesses working in collaboration with local authorities ."

More here

Pigeon Poo Pow-wow

Accumulating heaps of pigeon poo occuppying the Sundy discussion muscles over on the ever-popular Nairn When You were a Bairn page. 

This observer has seen Highland Council operatives making regular efforts with a pressure hose but perhaps pigeon poo levels are just too high for the cash-strapped organisation now. 

Rura with Fèis Inbhir Narainn and Fèis Spè Cèilidh Trails Ionad Coimhearsnachd & Ealain Inbhir Narainn Nairn Community & Arts Centre 7.30pm Disathairne 8 Sultain | Saturday 8 September

Council continues to seek views on a Development Plan for Nairn Links

Press release from Highland Council

Following the initial ‘community conversation’ at the Nairn Games, the next community engagement session to discuss the process of creating a Development Plan for the Nairn Links area will be a drop in session at the Links Pavilion on Saturday 1st September. The planning group and Nairn members are keen to get the views of as many local stakeholders and users as possible. 

The Links are in the ownership of the Nairn Common Good Fund, managed by the Council. They are an important feature of Nairn's attraction as a tourist destination. They are a ‘cherished’ green space with leisure facilities and home to Nairn Cricket Club, the Nairn Highland Games and other outdoor events. 

Over 100 people attended the stand at the Games and many completed feedback forms. It was evident that there are a very wide range of views and aspirations. 

Chair of the Nairnshire Committee, Cllr Tom Heggie said: “Our first community conversation at the Nairn Games went well, with many people stopping by to speak to us and to give us a wide range of views on the future for the Links. What is already coming across is how important the Links are to people of all ages and backgrounds.” 

Local members and officers will be on hand at the drop in session at the Links Pavilion on Saturday 1st September to discuss the process of creating a Development Plan for the Nairn Links area and to gather ideas and options for use that can be used for future planning. A formal consultation phase will then follow on the proposals. 

Through the consultation on the future of the paddling pool in 2017, it became clear that in addition to the need to determine the future of water play at the Links, revitalising the broader Links area was equally a key priority. There was an obvious need for a strategic development plan which will seek to: 

• create a framework for individual projects on the Links by the Common Good Fund and third parties

• promote the integration of the Links with the town

• build on the special nature of the area

• add to the historic value of the Links to Nairn as a visitor destination

• fit within the Common Good Fund's financial parameters and the plans of potential partners 

Following consultation in the autumn, a final plan will be prepared for consideration by the Nairnshire Committee by the end of the 2018/19 committee cycle in March 2019.

Games picture from Sandy

A picture from one of our regular readers

New floral feature at the leisure park thanks to KNC volunteers.

A KNC spokesperson told the Gurn:

"There is now a new feature there: the first part of a KNC project to make the Putting Green bed into a permanent floral feature with an orienteering theme. This came about from when Nairn hosted the 2015 WOC & KNC commissioned a floral compass there in carpet bedding. Since the Champs, there has been an increase in interest in orienteering in Nairn & there's now a Taster Course around the Leisure Park & along the Links with maps at James' Cafe & Nairn Leisure Centre for those who want to give it a try.

Adopting another bed that HC can no longer afford to maintain, we decided to make it perennial for all year interest & have commissioned local artist Blacksmith, Michael Job, to make a metal orienteering figure mounted on a central pink granite rock to match the stones round the edge. This is the compass pointer & Michael, with help from his dad, Gerry & G.K. Job has sourced 4 upright sandstones which he has dressed & added metal compass point letters. These were installed on Monday & I attach some pics. KNC members, local orienteers from INVOC & Moravians & Liz McDonald, representing the Ward which helped with funds, gathered to see it all in place. Michael himself doesn't like to have photos, so I have only got a couple when he & Gerry were doing the installations.

The second stage of the project: the perennial planting & a display panel telling the story of the bed & showing orienteering facilities in the area will be completed over the autumn with more planting in the spring. KNC has also asked local orienteer & cartographer, Steve Smurthwaite, to make new maps of the paths at the Leisure Park which will be printed off by Sight Action for the visiually impaired & will also be available at James' Café & the Leisure Centre."

Larger versions of the images available on the ever popular Nairn Oor Toon Facebook page here. 

Miss the games - why not watch the recordings of the "Nairn when you were a Bairn" live broadcasts on Facebook?

You'll need a facebook account and also need join NWYWAB. you will find there are some excellent recordings to watch here.  The group have also set up a funding page to make a contribution to next year's event too. 

The Nairn BID vote is in - it's a Yes!

NairnConnects BID (Business Improvement District) today announces that the ballot result delivered by Electoral reform services has confirmed that Nairn will have its own BID. With a headcount turnout of 51.18% (rateable value turnout of 59.41%) the result gave a hugely positive response with 107 Non Domestic Rated owners/managers voting yes and only 23 no. Both of these had to have a majority in favour with a minimum turnout of 25% for the BID to go ahead. 

Michael Boylan, Chair of the NairnConnects steering group said “This is a hugely positive step forward made by local business and Non-Domestic rated property owners. Throughout the 3 year process the debate was rarely about what should be done and always about what was the best method to get it done and I’m delighted that the local business community has agreed that a BID is the way forward. I’d like to thank everyone involved including Alan Rankin for getting us underway as well as Liam Christie and his team at North Highland Events for supporting the process through to conclusion at short notice but particularly the steering group and business owners who have given up a large amount of their time to make this work. What is not always recognised is the time and effort from local individuals that goes into making Nairn a better place and this process is another great example of that within our community. I’d also like to thank everyone who took the time to vote.” 

“It’s now time for us all to come together and make a real difference to Nairn. The next steps are to form a board and details on this will be published publically in the coming weeks, this will be open to all businesses involved, after that it will be up to the board of Directors to work with levy payers, community groups, public organisations and others in making a positive difference to Nairn’s economy”

115 houses for Kingsteps - Nairn Residents Concern Group slam decision

An NRCG spokesperson told the Gurn:

"The decision to grant planning consent for the Kingsteps site is deeply regrettable. Once again Nairn has had a development-planning decision imposed despite overwhelming local opposition. The consequences will haunt the town for years to come."

And they are extremely critical of the planning officer's report, they go on to claim:

"The planning official's report was flawed, inaccurate, misleading and complacent. Informed discussion – at the site visit and committee – was prevented or cut short. The official report, and the developers' assertions, were inadequately scrutinised."

We were also told:

"The fact that the committee was evenly split (5 votes to 5) demonstrated that members had serious doubts about the merits of the application and the quality of the planning assessment. To have the decision railroaded through by the casting vote of an Inverness Councillor backed by a colleague from Badenoch simply reinforces the impression that Nairn's interests are being overridden by representatives from elsewhere."

Tom Heggie comes in for a blast from NRCG too:

"But the sense of betrayal is most acute in relation to the only other Nairn member with a vote on the committee. Cllr. Heggie owes the community an explanation for his extraordinary failure to speak up for, and reflect the views of, those whom he claims to represent."

The group had more to say:

"As it is, the people of Nairn will pay a lasting and heavy penalty for this ill-judged decision. Traffic congestion, flood risk, environmental disturbance, and pressure on infrastructure, services and amenities will all increase.

The only winners in this lamentable story are Springfield, the developers, who will be able to walk away with even more massive profits; and Councillor Liz MacDonald the landowner, who will become very rich indeed."

Again the theme of local democracy or the lack of it as perceived by NRCG and others in the town raises its head once more, the NRCG said:

"Three years ago the Community Empowerment Act (CEA) gave the people of Scotland the right to determine the needs and priorities of their local place. Had this right been implemented by Highland Council, the outcome of the Kingsteps application may well have been very different and more aligned to the priorities of Nairn.

Nairn was stitched up and the only way to stop this happening again, and it will, is for Highland Council to implement the Community Empowerment Act within the spirit and intent it was legislated and not some watered down and restrictive version drawn up by officers of the Council.

Nairn is more than capable of making its own decisions and when it did so it thrived."

115 houses for Kingsteps - the debate at Highland Council yesterday (8.8.18)

The planning committee councillors come to Nairn to see the controversial site of the Springfield proposal for 115 houses at Kingsteps - videos

At the time of writing this article it seems the application has been passed according to reports on social media. Democracy in Nairn amounts in the final analysis to a minibus full of councillors coming to town then to go away and decide what is good for us back in the chamber of their HQ at Glenurquhart Road.

We live in an age where "localism" and "community empowerment" are the spin buzz words. Here at the Gurn we think there has to be a better way to decide how Nairn grows and where housing is built. Decisions have to be made by the community and not by others that don't live here.

Here are some videos of how the site visit went, questions were asked but some were not allowed under the terms of the purpose of a site visit. Have a look at them if you have some spare time and decide for yourself if this is an adequate system for deciding our town's future.

Saltfishforty Traditional and original music from Orkney at Croy Village Hall Weds August 15th 8 pm

Murd Disappointed with Fergus over Firhall Bridge

Murd tells the Gurn that he came back from holiday to an e-mail from MSP Fergus Ewing in which Fergus tells him: "...having now met you at the site, and having had a better take on other peoples diverse views, I cannot see how this project can be taken forward at this time."

Regular readers will recall that there was a meeting at the Firhall Bridge recently with Murd, Fergus and members of the access panel present. In his e-mail Fergus details a number of reasons why he feels he cannot support Murd. Murd in his indefatiguable way has responded to them all. 

Murd tells us that Fergus seems to be  influenced by the attitude of the Access Panel and quotes Fergus in his e-mail: "Third, I have formerly asked you for evidence that the local access panel support the project. It is for the Panel to speak for themselves. However there are practical objections to what you propose and these cannot and should not be ignored. Some indeed were expressed at the site meeting."

Murd tells the Gurn that there are parts of the Highlands where finance seems to be available to improve bridge access and points to this example here in Fort William.  He told us that despite his bitter disappointment with Fergus Ewing he will continue campaigning for improved access at the Firhall Bridge. 

Coastguard to the rescue as vehicle submerged on West Beach early Saturday evening

Cricket on the Links tomorow (Sunday 5th) - The finals of the 2018 Reserve T20 competition

Magnus tells the Gurn

The finals of the 2018 Reserve T20 competition will take place this Sunday at The Links, Nairn. Match 1 - 10.30 hrs: Nairn vs Northern Counties Match 2 - 13.30 hrs: Loser of Match 1 vs Buckie Match 3 - 16.30 hrs: Buckie vs Winner of Match 1. Many thanks to everyone at Nairn for hosting the event and best of luck to all competing teams.

Community groups have prepared briefing document for Planning Committee members who will make site visit to Nairn Lochloy on Wednesday morning

The document begins:

"This note [prepared and agreed by Nairn River Community Council, Nairn Residents Concern Group and the Kingsteps Residents Group] is a checklist and aide-memoire intended to assist members of the South Planning Applications Committee undertaking a site visit to South Kingsteps (site NA2) on 8 August.

It is not an attempt to summarise all the 100-plus objections raised to this application. 

Rather it identifies eight simple but key questions which Councillors might like to raise and discuss - or have in mind – as they undertake the site visit.

Those key issues are:

the impact on the Kingsteps neighbourhood 

housing density and overdevelopment 

relationship with Lochloy/Meadowlea 

access and road capacity 

political sensitivity and 'windfall' benefit 

water, drainage and sewage issues 

environmental concerns 

wider cumulative impact on the town" 

Anyone wishing to get up to date with all the major issues (as seen from those community groups opposed) concerning the controversial Springfield application for 115 houses on Liz's land may wish to read the document here.

The Lochloy Planning controvesy - Podcast on P&J site looking at past and present including Springfield application

The Springfield planning application for 115 houses out at Lochloy on Liz's land comes up for analysis on a very interesting Podcast that looks at past and present issues at Lochloy and how Nairn folk feel ignored by Highland Council.

What's going wrong with so called localism?  Loreine Thomson and Morton Gilliespire interviewed in the P&J podcast by the paper's Susy Macaulay.  More here (once there head down the page a littel for the Podcast). 

Springfield applicaiton for 115 houses on Liz's land – Kingsteps residents raise issue they feel has been ignored so far.

Kingsteps residents feel that the planning department have sidestepped the fact that Kingsteps has always been considered a rural hamlet in it's own right rather than part of Nairn and that now the planning department have been ignoring or sidestepping this. One of them told us:

"We will be going to great lengths to demonstrate that Kingsteps is historically and always has been a separate rural settlement and should be treated as such for future planning."

They point to pervious deliberations that show this. All this is quite aside from other infrastructure, wildlife and other issues that are contained in objections from the Community Councils and others. 

The planning committee of Highland Council will make a site visit to the Lochloy area on Wednesday the 8th of August at approximately 09.30 and objectors are encouraging all those with concerns on local housing and planning matters to attend that site visit to lobby councillors with their views.

Individual images here

Vandalism to cars in the Fishertown area - Nairn BID offer £500 reward for information leading to the conviction of those involved.

Save the badgers poster and others appear on Lochloy Road in advance of Highland Council Planning Committee visit on Weds 8th of August

Local residents and others that have strong concerns about the Springfield proposal for a large number of houses on land owned by Cllr Liz MacDonald have today been making their views known by displaying a number of posters in the Kingsteps area. More pictures soon. 

Social housing in Nairn - should we insist on Council and developers building more accomodation for single people?

Regular readers will no doubt will have seen the articles concerning "affordable housing" here and here. There is also a remarkable ongoing conversation on Nairn Rocks facebook page where local people are showing tremendous interest in this issue and some quite interesting comments have been made. It all comes against the background of the impending site visit by the Highland Council Planning Committee to the highly controversial site on Lochloy road where Springfield wish to build a large number of houses on land owned by local Councillor Liz MacDonald. That visit will take place on Wednesday 8th of August at approximately 9.30 am and Lochloy residents are encouraging all those with concerns on local housing and planning matters to attend that site visit. 

Whilst reading the conversation on social media we came across an analysis of the numbers of  those on the local council house waiting list.  We made inquiries and the information on the facebook page comes from a River Community Council meeting back in January of this year. We went back and had a look at the minutes of that meeting and here's what we find interesting, it is Lochloy resident Loreine Thomson speaking to the meeting:

"Forres Road plans propose ‘affordable’ housing rather than social housing with no allocation for social rent from Highland Council mentioned, These ‘affordable’ houses are offered for sale by part purchase from Albyn Housing, and do not add to local ‘social housing’ stock in the long term. 

Also the mix of housing types proposed does not represent needs of the 305 Nairn households on current Highland Council housing waiting list. 20% of these are transfer requests( mostly downsizing) 235 (61%) seek a 1 bed house 24% a 2 bed house and only 10% 3 bedrooms. If the 29 affordable homes on offer by Albyn Housing at Forres Road reflected local demand, the mix would be 18x1 bed, 8x 2 bed ,and 3x3 bed. Instead it is 8x1 bed, 11x2 bed and 10x3 bed. The Highland Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) proposes only 31 social homes for Nairn out of a total build of 213 with none due before 2020 and the 2nd lowest allocation in Highland. LM also noted that Forres Road site is not in either of 2 Local Development Plans."

There we have it folks, it seems that 61% of folk on the housing waiting list just want a one bedroom home. It makes sense when you think about it, just how do you get started as a young person if you wish to move into your own home? There are suggestions too that more of us are chosing to lead a solitary life too. Should Highland Council be insisting that developers change their priorities. 

Also folks keep further up todate on this issue by reading the letters in this week's edition of the Nairnshire Telegraph. More on this social media thread too. 

And at Fort George on the 11th and 12th of August

More information here