Sunday, April 10, 2011

The first of a few new Gurn pages: Manifesto for a better, more democratic Gurnshire

This observer, fresh from a glass of cider in the spring sunshine, wishes to share a few thoughts about things that could be achieved pretty quickly in our community if the authorities showed a wee bittie more willing. (more soon - see side-bar)

1) Liz back as Provost:
Liz was the modern face of Nairn in this second decade of the new millennium. We need her back!

2) Liz back as Provost:
Someone recently said to this observer over the garden fence: " Liz might have made the odd wee mistake, no-one is perfect but she is representitive of Nairn."

3) A single community Council for Nairn: ( i.e. a Nairn Town Council) working in conjunction with Auldearn, Cawdor and other CC's to promote and defend the interests of Nairnshire:
more info here

4) Control of the Common Good Fund back in the hands of the people of Nairn and out of the control of Highland Council. (implications for Sandown)

5) Lots more allotments

6) Development yes - but on a scale that the community desires and not development that Highland Council, the Scottish Government or the developers or anybody else dictates.

7) More consultation on Red Lampies (traffic lights)

8) Produce/grow more food locally and create jobs - Sainsbury's please take note, milk, bread and garlic spring to mind immediately. For example, Lidl (Forres) carrots are locally sourced

9) Open to offers - what do fellow gurnites think?

10) Oh aye, better access to the Firhall Bridge.

11) O aidh, beagan a bharrachd Gàdihlig sa bhaile.

12) Reinstate the "Weeklie Mercat"

Join the Gurn Party - you know we make sense!

7 comments:

Green wellies said...

The notion of supermarkets selling local food makes sense until you discover as to how supermarkets operate.
Local carrots and garlic are indeed sold by Tescos stores (Inverness, Forres, and Elgin), but the products travel several hundred miles to be washed and weighed before they appear on the shelves of the local stores.
We can only hope that the rising cost of carbon fuels results in more local foods being sold without travelling hundreds of miles before we get to eat them
Farmers markets have made a good attempt to bring local food to the consumer, but we need near daily or even bi weekly markets before we will lose the supermarket habit, and with one in every High Street.
For Nairnites the only option that I know of to obtain local food is to buy through a vegetable box scheme, not always ideal

Brian Turner said...

How about a single Royal Burgh of Nairn Town Council running the Common Good Fund?

Do we really need Inverness Council to organise this? Could the more active members of the local community come together to set this up and simply inform Inverness Council of the changes that have taken place?

Graisg said...

Hi Green Wellies,

there's an object outside the Courthoose called the "Mercat Cross".The right to a weeklie mercat given to the Burgh of Nairn by the ancient kings of Scotland and that ancient object living proof of it - where did the market go?
This observer asked for space for market stances to be included in the NICE and HC plans for the town centre. Nothing so far. Surprise, surprise?
Makes sense doesn't it? locals coming into toon to sell their produce and craft goods. Would bring punters into the town centre too. Most Nairn folk would like a weekly market - one wonders why we are denied one???

The Rebel said...

Street market the last time some of more adventurous try ed to set up a market from barrows on the high street were they not chased for not having a traders license and the local shops complained of loss of trade. But I do think it would be a grate opportunity to get fresh veg and other product and it may get shoppers on to the high street and help keep the street alive.

Anonymous said...

It was all so Nice for a while.What's
happened now.Maybe its not so Nice any more.?

Anonymous said...

As far as I know no one's ever been chased after suggesting ( or organising ) a street market. In fact I believe that the very subject is under discussion at the moment.

I was once told that the only reason the Farmers Market that was held in Inverness was not held in Nairn was because were never asked. I didn't realise that the world of commerce had such high standards where politeness was concerned.

I'm sure a market would be popular & it may be necessary too, to offer any depth of choice anyway. Anyone who saw Countryfile on BBC 1 tonight, and the effect that out of town supermarkets have had on Yeovil ,et al, may be wondering if there'll be any shops left in Nairn High Street in 2 or 3 years time.

Bill Posters said...

I haven't seen any Gurn party posters up yet on the lamp posts (just wanted to gurn about this!)