65 today - Happy Birthday to Ian MacRae

Claim of riverside habitat destruction - was the layout map from swan and duck folk ignored?

More over on the Swan mannie's blog. 

Nairnshire Rising Street stall Sat 1st July, Leopold Street corner on Nairn High Street 11.30 am to 12.30

If you are in or near Nairn this Saturday (1st July) please pop along for a wee while. Bring a banner too if you  can. 

Nairn Police supporting #TeamHamish

Join the Nairn Connects BID Steering Group

The Nairn BID is looking for local business owners to join the BID Steering Group to help take forward the job of shaping the future ambitions of the Nairn BID.

There are now 32 BIDS up and running across Scotland, each having developed a Business Plan that is unique to its own area. Each BID has a Steering Group made up of local business people who form a committee to support the development their Business Plan.

BIDs operating in towns and areas like Nairn have focussed their efforts around the visitor and retail economy and visitor events. Others have focussed around improvements to streetscapes, parking, or employability issues with local businesses, schools and colleges.

Michael Boylan, Chair of the BID Steering Group said. “It’s important we have a good cross section of Nairn businesses on the Steering Group to ensure we build the Plan around what is important for Nairn. Being on the group will involve a commitment over the coming year but also represents a great opportunity to help shape the economic future for Nairn.”

Alan Rankin BID Project manager said. “There has been a great deal of work done in getting the idea of a BID for Nairn to this stage. The next step is to broaden that involvement to bring in a wider range of motivated people to help shape and make the BID a success.”

Alan added. “No two BIDs are the same with the business plan and activities decided upon and prioritised by the local business community. “

To get the process moving forward the BID is looking to local businesses people to step forward and join the Steering Group. Alan Rankin will, with the support of the Steering Group, develop through conversation and consultation a Business Plan that in turn will be put to a vote in 2018.

People whose business properties are non-domestic rated can notify the BID Project Manager Alan Rankin of their interest to join the group. Alan will in turn send on the brief for steering group members and then meet to discuss with interested parties the workings of the group. The Steering Group will meet on a regular monthly basis over the coming year and through a process of consultation with local businesses generate a Business Proposal and Business Plan. 

More information about BIDS and details on the other BIDs in Scotland can be found at the NairnConnects BID website www.nairnconnects.com

Alan Rankin can be contacted on alan@nairnconnects.com or on 07785 722936

What is good about Nairn according to a community planning workshop

Here is what a recent Community Planning Partnership workshop made of what is good about Nairn. Consultation still a four letter word in Nairn or is this one going to be different? There is an ongoing survey here on the Partnership's website? 

"The Good—What is good about your community?

 Facebook pages for Nairnshire—Nairn Rocks; Nairn Cares; Nairn Recycle

 Excellent community facilities e.g. Community Arts Centre

 Community Spirit—sunniest place in Scotland!!

 Volunteers are active & willing to support

 Level of community support for events

 Friendly
 Community works together

 Recognition response & referral to statutory agencies

 Number of people involved in volunteering 

 Statutory agencies wanting to engage with community based organisations/third sector

 Engagement with local issues

 Volunteers are invaluable

 The support of good neighbours

 Friendly and welcoming

 High level of community involvement

 Safe and welcoming

 People are willing to step up and help each other

 Business which benefit the community eg. Restaurant in Ardersier which does Christmas meals for those on their own

 Safe Community 

Massive variety of activities

 Integrated adult services are co-located

 Great assets

 Good leisure facilities, lots of outdoor space or the community to use

 Tourism attraction not just Scotland

 Lots of Community groups t be involved with—for all tastes"

Ah but what about the bad and the ugly? Find out more on the Community Planning workshop report here. 

Raft Race Nairn 2017 - video

A large turnout at the Harbour for the raft race this afternoon.


And a few pictures here.

New "aire de service" for Nairn on the Maggot?

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

John Finnie MSP - Marine Scotland and their S2S in Moray Firth application reports - "Who caused them not to advance?"

Highland MSPs John Finnie and Ed Mountain attended the Holyrood Parliament Public Petitions Committee this morning to discuss the Cromarty Rising petition on Ship to ship oil transfers and trust ports. The Committee agreed to keep the petition open and explore the issue further. 

The video is approximately 12 minutes long - worth watching if you have been following this issue. 

Moray Firth "marine interests" River CC turns down invitation to "focused workshop" and calls for public meeting instead

Last night at their regular meeting in the Nairn Community and Arts Centre NRCC turned down an invitation to send "one individual" to a "focused workshop" organised by the Moray Firth Partnership. An e-mail from the Moray Firth Partnership came into the public domain at the meeting, it read:

"The Moray Firth Partnership, under new manager, Vicky Junik, is building on previous regional marine planning discussions in the Moray Firth, particularly at the local level, and as such, would like to invite a small group of local community stakeholders with marine interests to a short focussed workshop in Nairn on Monday 26th June.

With the increasing demand for use of and access to the coast and sea, improving information and understanding of how marine space is used and developed is essential. Currently, data is lacking and is not easily accessible at the local scale where the impacts of decisions are felt by communities and stakeholders.

Exploring, demonstrating and understanding the options at the local level is crucial. Particularly how activities interact and potentially conflict; how they are represented and negotiated and how stakeholders can be engaged and empowered to participate and provide advice to improve and influence the decisions that affect them.

We would appreciate you nominating an individual who would be happy to take part in the discussions. We do have some flexibility on the timing of the meeting, so if you could please also indicate morning, afternoon or evening."

After some debate between River CC members with contributions from  members of the public present River CC decided to politely turn down the invitation given the concerns expressed - including that given the public concern over proposed Ship to Ship oil transfers it might be misinterpreted if only one individual representing the community group should go to a closed "focused workshop" and decided to call for a public meeting instead.

Members also wanted to know more about the Moray Firth Partnership worked and their relationship with the Cromarty Firth Port Authority and the nature of the funding they receive from the CFPA.

River CC members voted to send the following response to the Moray Firth Partnership:

"Nairn River Community Council 

·welcomes the interest shown by the Moray Firth Partnership in promoting discussion of regional marine planning issues in the Moray Firth; 

·points out that the most urgent and sensitive current issue is the proposal to seek a licence to conduct STS oil transfers in the waters of the Firth; 

·notes that there has already been substantial and widespread public discussion and action by residents in Nairn and in communities around both sides of the Firth on this specific issue;

·recalls that both River CC and West & Suburban CC submitted formal written objections to the original licence application; 

·draws attention to other matters of current concern - notably the problem of bathing water quality - and also to the government's latest policy initiative on marine recreation and tourism;

·does not believe that a "short focussed workshop" for a small group, convened at less than a week's notice, and limited to one individual participant representing the Nairn CCs and/or community, is an adequate or acceptable way of taking forward consideration of this and other related aspects of marine planning and management in and around the Firth; 

·and therefore proposes to respond to the Moray Firth Partnership's invitation by requesting them instead to convene a public meeting in Nairn at which Community Council members, local elected Councillors, and all other local community organisations [eg VisitNairn, the ANB, the Bathing Water Group, NICE, the harbour group, NRCG, and Crom/Nairn Rising] can engage in a round-table discussion about how the Moray Firth Partnership can more effectively reflect and represent the interests and concerns of local stakeholders in the development of local marine planning."

Ship to ship oil transfers and Trust Port accountability continues to be under Scottish Parliament Committee scrutiny

John Finnie MSP today (22/06/2017) welcomed the decision of the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee to keep Cromarty Rising’s petition on Ship-to-ship oil transfers and trust port accountability open.

Mr Finnie, who has been campaigning on this issue for well over a year, spoke in favour of the petition at the committee meeting - calling for greater clarity around responsibilities relating to ship to ship transfers.

Commenting after the committee John Finnie said:

“I am pleased that the Public Petitions Committee decided to further investigate this matter. There is clearly much confusion over the process for ship to ship oil applications and I am hopeful that further scrutiny will provide much needed clarity.

“The Scottish Government have adopted a ‘nothing to do with us’ approach to this issue yet there are clear roles for SEPA, SNH and Marine Scotland – all Scottish Government agencies – to play in the process.

“There also remains concerns that a response prepared by Marine Scotland was stymied by Ministers. This is deeply concerning and requires further scrutiny.”

Alasdair Beatson (piano) Nairn Community and Arts Centre Saturday 24th June 7.30 pm

Press release Music Nairn

Alasdair Beatson (piano)

Saturday 24th June 7.30pm

Nairn Community and Arts Centre

Tickets at the door

Pianist Alasdair Beatson who plays for Music Nairn on Saturday (24th) is highly regarded as a

distinctive and vibrant musician. As well as his established reputation as one of the UKs top chamber pianists, he also has a wide and varied repertoire, enjoying a regular association with the Scottish Ensemble. In addition to numerous chamber music projects, he recently toured concertos of Mozart and Haydn throughout Scotland and at Wigmore Hall.

His programme for Saturday is imaginatively varied with such classics as Beethoven Bagatelles Debussy’s Images and Schumann’s Kinderszenen contrasted with Satie, Bartok and Dohnanyi.

Concert begins at 7.30 at Nairn Community and Arts Centre with tickets at the door.

Here comes the sun - Summer Solstice on Nairn Beach 2017 - video

Grian-stad an t-samhraidh sona dhuibh uile - happy solstice to everyone

Individual images here.

Nairnshire rising case against the proposed ship to ship transfers is echoing round an empty space at the Scottish Government?

Here's this week's editorial from the Nairnshire Telegraph that to this observer says it very much like it is when it comes to the proposed ship to ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth. Get yourself a copy of the Nairnshire to read the front page article about the Nairnshire Rising meeting at the bandstand on the Links that was attended by the local MP Drew Hendry. 

Meanwhile the latest developments concerning the proposed ship to ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth.

Some of the latest from the Cromarty Rising Facebook page.

Team Hamish thank you

After Sunday's amazing event Team Hamish have given the Gurn an update on how things went:

'Team Hamish would like say a huge thank you to Nairn and the community for the fantastic support at our fundraising launch event. 'Run for Hamish', on Sunday 11th June. 

We were overwhelmed by the amazing numbers - over 1,100 participants and hundreds of spectators. Without all the help from volunteers, sponsors, support from local schools and businesses this would never have been achieved.

This is the start of creating a special outside area in Nairn, which will be a legacy for Hamish and will benefit everyone.

The monies raised, still accumulating, are in excess of £20,000.'

Drew Hendry MP having a blether with Nairnshire Rising - pictures Murray MacRae

Pictures Murray MacRae - Individual images here. 

Drew discusses campaign strategy to stop Ship to Ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth at the Links Bandstand with Nairnshire Rising.  

Drew Hendry MP turns up for a wee blether with Nairnshire Rising at Flashpod at the Bandstand meeting

Nairn River Community Council next meeting Weds 21st of June at 7.30 pm in the Community and Arts Centre

The next meeting of the Nairn River Community Council will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday the 21st of June at the Nairn Community and Arts Centre.

Meeting Agenda can be found here.

Protect the Moray Firth and its precious wildlife - c'mon down to the Links Bandstand 7 pm this Thursday night (15th June)

Nairn County sponsorship deal with Bandstand Bar and Restaurant

Nairn Ceilidh Group - season 2017 starts on Thursday June 15th

Nairn Ceilidh Group have a big line up for their opening ceilidh of the new summer season which opens at the Nairn Community and Arts Centre this Thursday, June 15.

As well as dancing to the Nairn Ceilidh Band the audience are in for a treat with the delights of traditional singing duo Corralach, Eileen Solan and the wonderful harmonies of Sunntach.

As well as highland dancers and pipers it promises to be a packed evening of entertainment and the group are hoping for a big turn out on the opening night.

Chairman and MC of the ceilidhs Donald Wilson said: "Last year we had a great first season at the Community Centre. The ceilidhs are a great night out for families and we love to see visitors from all over the world joining in the fun. We keep admission charges down so it's an affordable night out and we hope to see you there."

Last year the group was recognised by Visit Nairn for their contribution to traditional entertainment for visitors to the town.

"It was totally unexpected and lovely to receive the award," said Donald.

"We have been indebted to tourist operators and Visit Nairn for their support over the years in selling their guests about the ceilidhs and we want to continue the ceilidhs which have been part of the summer scene now for more than 30 years."

Proceeds from the ceilidhs are distributed to local charities and organisations.

Images from #TeamHamish event - Nairn 11 June 2017

 Individual images here.