Resident swan on River Nairn "Popeye" dies

Very bad news tonight. More information over on the Swan blog. 

Cinema Nairn at the Community and Arts Centre 7.30pm Friday 30th September

On Friday (30th) Cinema Nairn presents an award winning Jordanian film by director Naji Abu Nowar.

Amid stunning desert scenery, a Bedouin tribe have traditionally guided pilgrims through inhospitable and dangerous territory. So when, during WW1, a mysterious English stranger asks to be guided through the desert to a secret destination a young lad Theeb is detailed to accompany him.

This coming of age thriller unfolding through the eyes of the young Bedouin as he tries to unravel the mystery is accompanied by a stunning musical score and outstanding cinematography.

Film starts 7.30pm at Nairn Community and Arts Centre, with tickets at the door.

Camper vans at the Harbour overnight - most folk not bothered by them? Councillors out of sync with public opinion?

The Leopold Street Thunderer today published a front page spread concerning comments made by local Highland councillors about the holidaymakers that park their vans up over night at the harbour. This in turn has prompted debate on the popular social media page "Nairn our town our views" - from the comments being made there it looks like councillors who are calling for the campervans to be moved from the harbour could really be out of touch on this one.

More here on the Facebook page. "Nairn our town our views"

Meanwhile down in Ardersier the uprising continues - will Highland Politicians have the bottle to support them?

It seems the site visit did eventually go ahead. Follow the latest here on the Ardersier folks campaign Facebook page. The decision by the Highland Council South Planning committee will be webcast here. 

116 year wait is over as Nairn Dunbar achieve first Northern Counties Cup success

"Nairn Dunbar, beaten finalists last year, went one better in the Northern Counties Cup final at Royal Dornoch Golf Club on Saturday afternoon.

Graeme Burnett, Willie Barron, Freddie Brown and Brian Watson beat Royal Aberdeen's Mark Halliday, Nick Macandrew, Donald Macandrew and Daniel Sim by two holes to win the prestigious double foursomes club match-play tournament which was first played in 1900."  

More, including picture, here on Scottish Golf View

Shingles vaccination information from Nairn HealthCare

Flu Vaccine information from Nairn HealthCare

Scottish Cup Nairn 2 Prestonpans 3 - pictures Donald Matheson

Individual images here. 

Buckie Ladies 3 Nairn Ladies 3 - a draw debut for new Nairn side

Follow the Nairn laides side here on facebook.

Meanwhile over on the Gurn twitter account

If there's not much being posted here it's worth having a look at the Gurn twitter account. Quite a lot happens in the Nairn twittersphere these days. You don't have to have an account to look at tweets either. 

Tweets by @GurnNurn

Community Transport Seminar Friday 23rd September - Nairn Community and Arts Centre

Another step towards the rebirth of something resembling the old Nairn District Council?

A press release from Highland Council. Away from the talking shops and into a doing shop?

Taking forward community partnership in Nairnshire and Ardersier

Councillors have today (21 September) welcomed the creation of a new Nairnshire and Ardersier Community Partnership which will be launched this autumn and will play a key role in taking forward local planning arrangements.

The Highland Community Planning Partnership Board agreed at their meeting on 30th June to establish 9 local partnerships across the Highlands, including one in Nairnshire and Ardersier. These partnerships will provide a focus for local discussion, engagement with communities and identifying priorities for the local area.

Under the terms of the Community Empowerment Act, community planning is to become a shared duty facilitated by Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NHS Highland and The Highland Council. Along with representation from the Third Sector, community planning will also involve a further 10 partners including SNH, SEPA, the Scottish Sports Council, HITRANS, Skills Development Scotland and Visit Scotland.

The Community Partnership will replace the current District Partnership arrangements which covered Badenoch and Strathspey, Ardersier and Nairn together, and its core remit will be to:

• Develop Local Plans for Children and Adults

• Develop Locality Plans/Community Learning and Development plans focusing on communities facing the greatest level of inequality as a result of socio-economic disadvantage

• Identify local actions and priorities

During today’s Area Committee, members had the chance to discuss progress and reaffirm their commitment to the new arrangements. 

Chair of the Nairnshire Area Committee, Councillor Michael Green said: “The new Community Partnerships are about a more local approach to decision making, with partners working together to address local issues and priorities. This new Community Partnership will focus on the Nairnshire and Ardersier areas and will drive forward community empowerment for our communities. Representatives of Community Councils will need to be represented as an equal partner in the new structure. We, as local members, are all committed to making the new arrangements work and look forward to greater involvement of local people in decision making.”

Local priorities for Nairnshire

Here's a press release  below from Highland Council. This observer attended part of this meeting this morning and was quite impressed by the performance of Margaret Davidson the Leader of the Council who was in Nairn for this meeting. Much of what she said will be sweet music to the ears of the usual suspects. If time permits we hope to get round to reporting some more of what she said. 

A draft list of local strategic priorities for Nairnshire, which reflect the geographical diversity of the Ward, has been drawn up by members in order to ensure that local needs and issues are taken into account by the Council as a whole.

The draft list of priorities identified by local Members includes:

Economic development and prosperity – this includes developing a blueprint for economic and regeneration with key targets and timescales for Town Centre, Harbour area and business park

Broadband and connectivity – developing wifi and bringing a minimum of 4G to all areas of the Ward

Community/localism - supporting local participatory budgeting initiatives

Transport and infrastructure – Supporting delivery of A96 Bypass and lobbying to improve sewerage infrastructure

Housing development – Development of key sites and affordable housing, including proposals to be included in the City Region Deal

Health and social care – ensuring quality local care provision

Education – seeking opportunities to develop higher education provision and skills and employability for young people

Partnership working – working with partners to create a dynamic change agenda for development of Nairn

Chair of the Nairnshire Area Committee, Councillor Michael Green said:

“These priorities will include the creation of a blueprint for Nairn for economic development and regeneration with key targets and timescales for town centre and harbour regeneration, tourism development and business improvement.

“We want to take the opportunity to make Nairn the watersports capital of the Highlands and attract even more visitors to the area. We have a large sailing club, a growing kayak club, a world class golf resort, dolphin tours and many other attractions. We also have a growing cruise ship market in the Highlands and we need to capitalise on all these factors to grow Nairn as a tourist destination.

“Improving the quality of our bathing water and upgrading our sewerage infrastructure are vital and we need to put Nairn at the front of the queue for investment.”

He added: “Fundamental to the success of the area is good infrastructure and connectivity, both for broadband and for transport. Nairn needs reliable broadband and mobile phone coverage, and we will aim to develop Nairn as a wifi town.

Together, we will work with partner organisations to create a dynamic change agenda for Nairnshire.”

The Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson visited the Area Committee to hear about the local priorities and what the Council can do to help progress these. 

She said: “Broadband connectivity is very high on our council agenda and this issue appears on the lists of all the areas’ priorities. The BT broadband contract is nearly completed and there are ongoing improvements with new and upgraded mobile phone masts underway. However there are still areas with very poor connectivity and we now need to know what the Scottish Government’s plan is for 100% coverage. It is too important for business and leisure and our way of life.”

She added: “I am pleased to see local priorities being developed. This is the biggest Council in the UK, in geographical size and members. We cover diverse and widespread communities, each with their own unique challenges and needs. The Council is committed to a localism agenda, which means we really want to hear want matters to local people so that we can target our efforts and design our services accordingly. 

“We have our Highland First Programme and each Area is now identifying their local priorities, which is a good start in actually empowering people to work in partnership with the Council to make real improvements and reduce inequalities across the Highlands. I want Area Committees to be really specific in identifying areas for local economic development. We have a short time available in the term of this Council, but I am convinced that we can make some real inroads.”

Members debated the draft priorities which will be further defined and agreed at the next area committee meeting in December.

Next steps for Nairn South Masterplan

Nairn South Masterplan will be considered at a future meeting of the Nairnshire Area Committee to allow further time to fully consider comments received.

The item presenting feedback from the consultation on the Transport Appraisal for Nairn South was scheduled to be considered at the next Nairnshire Committee meeting. However, due to the breadth of issues raised in comments received and the need to fully consider these, whilst also seeking views from the transport consultants who carried out the appraisal, the item will be referred to a future meeting. Members will then be asked to agree the Council position on the issues raised and the next steps in preparing the Nairn South Masterplan.

Whilst there has been some slippage in timescales, the commitment to prepare the Nairn South Masterplan remains a requirement of the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan Action Programme and will be prepared by the Council. This work, when complete, will guide any future development on this site and put us in a strong position to determine any application for development.

Nairnshire Committee Chair Cllr Michael Green said: “I am delighted the Council is taking adequate time to investigate, analyse and reflect on the large number of responses received from the Nairn Community.”

Gurn comment: It's now just over three years since the residents of Nairn took to the streets to demonstrate against the Nairn South proposals and it still this overwhelmingly unpopular idea lives on.

Nairn Healthcare News September 2016

Staffing

Nairn Healthcare is sad to say goodbye to two loyal members of admin staff. June Watt, medical secretary, retired after 35 years of service to the surgery and we wish her a long and healthy retirement. Receptionist Marion is also leaving the desk after 12 years. We wish Marion well in her new post. 

We are delighted to welcome Dr Katie Reid back after maternity leave. Dr Reid is available for appointments now. We will also be welcoming two new Advanced Nurse Practitioners to Nairn Healthcare. Anni Campbell and Amy Mackay will be joining Hayley Shepherd and Kevin Stuart as part of the duty clinician team from 3rd October. 

We have also said goodbye to GP Registrar, Dr Gina McRobbie, whose placement came to an end. We have welcomed Dr Lori Cruickshank who will be with Nairn Healthcare for 6 months. 

Art in Health Care

Nairn Books and Arts festival goers were invited to attend a private view of the Art in Healthcare Exhibition which includes artwork from emerging and established Scottish artists such as TG McGill Duncan, David Michie and also Christopher Gilvan Cartwright, whose series of paintings were inspired by recovery following illness.

The event took place in the waiting area of Nairn Healthcare Group and attendees were also joined by the chief executive of the Art in Healthcare charity, Margaret O’Connor. 

Pictured right are Dr Debbie Miller, Dr Calum Macaulay, Margaret O’Connor and Dr Audrey Banks.

eConsults

Nairn Healthcare is launching a new alternative way of contacting the GP through the method of eConsult.

eConsult is available now and can be accessed through our website – www.nairnhealthcaregroup.co.uk

You just log on, click on the eConsult banner and fill in the form that relates to your condition. This can save you waiting in the phone queue for a telephonist. The eConsult will be given to the duty clinician and you will receive a response by 6.30pm the next working day.

We would like to stress that this is an additional service and will not replace current services available at NHG.

The picture left illustrates the first “eConsult” dated 21st October 1774. It was from Dr William Cullen who helped found the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh.

Ear Syringing 

Earwax is normal and is produced inside your ears to keep them clean and free from bacteria. Impacted ear wax is common, and the chances of wax accumulating are increased by the use of hearing aids and cotton buds. Possible complications of syringing include perforation of the ear drum, otitis externa (inflammation of the external ear canal), damage to the external canal, pain, deafness, vertigo and tinnitus (“ringing in the ears”).In most cases you can self-treat using eardrops bought from the pharmacy. The ear drops should be used several times a day for 2 weeks to soften the earwax so that it falls out by itself. This is a safe and effective treatment which should avoid the need for syringing however if this fails to resolve your problem, please contact the Practice to discuss further.

Training Practice

The Practice regularly hosts Medical Students, most from the University of Dundee.

The students are supervised during their attachment by one of our experienced GPs. All of the Doctors take an active role in the students’ attachments to the practice.

During a student’s attachment, you may be asked if you mind seeing the student on their own before your appointment with the GP. If you agree, we will ask you to complete a consent form and you will see the Doctor immediately after. 

Training in general practice is a crucial part of all medical students’ training and we urge you to co-operate with the students if you can.

We will be joined by Blair Wallace and Iona Robertson (Dundee University) from mid-September who will be completing a placement year with Nairn Healthcare.

Nairn 1 Wick 2 pictures Donald Matheson

Individual images here.   Match report here.   And pictures from Fort William 1 Nairn 2 on Wednesday night here.  Match report from that one here. 

Spirit of Nairn Festival - It's all about Nairn

Ardersier People’s uprising against Scottish waste water treatment plans – can Fergus sort it?

The discontent does more than rumble in Ardersier. The community has been galvanised and have learnt new protest activist and campaign skills on the way. Tonight saw another packed meeting in the War Memorial Hall. An all woman top table of activists set out the next steps of the community’s campaign. Displeasure was expressed about the attitudes of both Scottish Water and Highland Council and preparations were being discussed for the forthcoming site visit of the planning committee to the proposed Waste Water location. The determination was palpable, here was a community fed up with the way the authorities were treating it and looking for help from their elected representatives to redress the situation.

The meeting heard how more support was needed from SNP, Green and Labour MSPs. A question from the floor asked who could stop the development going ahead in the proposed location. The answer came back “Fergus Ewing”. Residents of Ardersier are looking to their constituency MSP to sort the situation for them and get the plant relocated further away from the village. (To this observer that seems like a reasonable request – good luck to the people of Ardersier in their campaign.)  The meeting continued with a hustings for candidates in the forthcoming Ardersier and Culloden ward Highland Council byelection. 

More information and background on the Against Ardersier Waste Treatment Plant here.

You can't go far in Ardersier without coming across protest banners

The meeting was a little late in getting underway

AAWTP activists Isla O'Reilly and Jenny Maylan after the first part of the meeting 

Quite a lot at River CC last night

A good write up has been published this morning over on the Nairn Rocks facebook site by Nairn West/Suburban Councillor Andrew Randerson. Andrew's article is also available on Nairn our Town, he begins:

"Was a fantastic meeting last night of the Nairn river community council and some bullet points below to show what a wide ranging amount of topics get discussed...and proves so many many good folk trying to do good for nairn and keep it ROCKING :)

LoreineThomson gave a passionate speech regarding community engagement laws and issues happening right now regarding Highland development plans inner moray firth plans and so so much more then I could type here ...."

You can read the rest here if you are a member of the Nairn Rocks group. 

The stuff from Leoreine Thomson was truly top of the range and we are lucky to have her researching the way Highland Council interpret the Scottish Government's Community Empowerment legislation. She reckons they are falling far, far short and we have to take them to task to make sure that we get a better deal in getting some powers back to Nairn, especially on planning where so many of Nairn's difficulties have surfaced in recent years. 

If the community is ever to take control and decide on the pace and place of future expansion of Nairn then it will have to come out of this community empowerment legislation. Councillor Michael Green was also present and he indicated his determination to get the best deal for Nairn out of the Community Empowerment opportunity. The struggle continues.  Gurnshire - we need to take control ourselves - let's do it!

Meanwhile over on the SEPA water quality results page for Nairn's East Beach - quite an extraordinary bad result on August 8th

Gurnites can browse the SEPA page here. According to the SEPA folk "Single sample results above 500 EC and 200 IE are indicative that water was of low quality when the sample was taken" - well the score on August 8th was a massive 3,600 for EC and the IE was bad too!   Things hadn't been too bad at all this year up to then. Nairn Central beach results also available here. 

This obviously must have alarmed the testers as they had a think about this and added to the table is the following:

"The elevated result at Nairn (East) is likely to be due to heavy rain and stormy weather conditions preceding sampling. SEPA staff observed that strong westerly winds were pushing the flow from the River Nairn directly over the sampling site at Nairn (East). This combined with the high bacterial counts seen in the River Nairn samples and sediment disturbance at the sampling site are thought to have caused the elevated localised bacterial counts. Joint, pre-planned, SEPA and Scottish Water inspections of the Nairn sewage network on 8 August 2016 confirmed that there were no discharges from the storm overflows at that time. Further investigations by SEPA staff found no other on-going issues or pollution incidents in the area at this time that would have influenced bathing water quality."

No other ongoing issues they say - well the Swan mannie's obeservations could be said to contradict that - more over on the swan blog here. 

Pollution in River Nairn - Michael Green calls for "immediate action" and Ed Mountain invited to special stakeholders shitestorm summits

Regular readers will recall the link we posted to the swan mannie's eye witness report on the dry weather serious pollution incident on the lower River Nairn this week - that article is here on the swan blog here if you are unaware of what happened. 

Well now, Independent councillor for Nairn, Michael Green has called for ‘immediate action’ in response to the recent sewage discharges into the River Nairn. Cllr Green, who also chairs the Highland Council’s Nairnshire Committee, said he plans to meet with Scottish Water to agree on a plan for swift action: “The Highland Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Davidson and I will be seeking an urgent meeting with Scottish Water to initiate and agree action to once and for all address the issues facing Nairn. I have also met and briefed Edward Mountain MSP and will be invited to attend future Nairn Bathing Water Stakeholder Group meetings”.

Cllr Green was keen to emphasise that a program should also be put into place to bring the current system up to the best standards possible: “The recent sewage discharges directly into the River Nairn, highlights once again, the scale of the problem we face here in Nairn. What is required is immediate remedial action to mitigate the effects of these dangerous discharges, plus longer term, a program of works to upgrade the local infrastructure to the highest standards. The incident will be top of the agenda at the upcoming Nairn Bathing Water Stakeholder Group.”

Ardersier against Waste Treatment Plant Demo - pictures from Murray MacRae

Individual images here.

Charges for Cludgies in Nairn - time to tell Highland Council to Bog off?

It's survey monkey time as the high heid yins in Glenurquhart Road think up new ways of paying the top man's £140K per annum etc, etc.  Here's the spin:

"The Council is undertaking a review of how public conveniences are funded and will be increasing the number of sites where there is a charge for use. The Council is consulting on how much you would be willing to pay for the use of the public toilets and is seeking views on the level of charges from service users and other stakeholders to assist in the decision making process. Increasing the income from the usage of the toilets could enable the Council to retain more public toilet provision."

Here at Gurn HQ we are willing to pay no charges at all for popping into a cludgie in toon. Keep our cludgies free of charges - and just in case you think of trying it on with the parking then BOG OFF on that one too. We are feeling pretty annoyed here at the Gurn on this attack on civilisation. No payment for a pee! Keep Nairn Cludgies free of charge!

Feeling like being surveyed by the monkies - then try here.  By the way do any councillors still take a free dinner when they go for meetings in Inverness?

Update: is Nairn exempt from pay as you pee proposals? The Highland Council Press release makes no mention of this however Councillor Stephen Fuller states on twitter this evening. "fortunately no plans for pay per pee in Nairn and we intend on keeping it that way."

The Highland Council press release can be read here and there is no mention of an exemption for Nairn. 

"Beep if we look as stupid as Scottish Water" - a weekend of Community Protest in Ardersier - video interview with activist

Can't see the video? Try this Gurn Youtube page here. Images to be posted later.

Pollution incident in River Nairn witnessed by Swan mannie - working group on s**** in River Nairn affecting beaches please note and seek explanation!

More including pictures over on Joe Telfer's Swan Blog.