Swimming Pool discussion at Ward Forum

We continue with a few statements made by Highland Councillor Graham Marsden on Tuesday night....

'What we want you people to do is to reinforce just exactly what you have been saying so that we can then bring all this forward, because while obviously we know that, the reality is that I didn’t know how many groups actually used the pool until this came up. It is interesting, I was speaking to a number of people recently and they were saying ‘hey we must save the pool’. Then I said, ‘when were you last in it and on particular person said, ‘well the last time my kids went to swimming lessons – some years ago.’ '

‘The point I’m making really is what we need to do between now and the end of the consultation, which is June 30^th is amass all this information, then we can make the case as local councillors for it to be retained because I think we’re all aboard with regard to that.’

'We’re convinced. The problem is that we have to convince others.’

‘The budget doesn’t come out until early next year, possibly February. So the consultation finishes, the official consultation finishes at the end of June but from then on there are other contributions and they can still be accepted up to September/October time. I’ve spoken to the budget leader about this and that’s the reassurance that I’ve been given.'

Graham and Sandy were outlining the consultation process and how the public could help by submitting their information to support the case that Nairn Councillors would present. We have to wait until February until we find out if Nairn Pool is to survive. Contrast Nairn's consultation with that of Inverness however. An Inverness councillor is claiming that the six community centres in the Highland Capital are now safe from the cuts. It seems the consultation process can be by-passed in Inverness but not in Nairn! Here's an extract from yesterday's P&J:

'Highland Council had considered shutting down up to four of the centres to save £133,000 a year on staff and running costs.
Those in the frame had been the Spectrum Centre, Merkinch Centre, James Cameron Centre, Hilton community centre, Raigmore community centre and the Cameron Club youth centre.
Speaking after lobbying colleagues at separate meetings of the Independents and ruling administration yesterday, Inverness Central councillor Peter Corbett said he had been delighted with the backing of other councillors to exclude the facilities from any hit-list as part of a continuing public consultation on budget possibilities.'

Full Press and Journal report here