Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Facebook campaigners move Co-op to action?

Could bad publicity on Facebook finally be moving the Co-op to action on the Regal/old petrol station disaster zone? There's a major article in the Press and Journal today as a direct result of the Boycott the Nairn Co-op facebook campaign. Although many people contributing to that group are drawing back from a boycott that will affect jobs but there is still tangible anger being demonstrated.

A Co-op spokesperson is quoted in the P&J today:

"We are currently exploring a range of operations regarding the future of the buildings, including the sale of them."
"A quick solution cannot, however, be guaranteed in the current economic climate. But in the meantime the co-operative will carry out some cosmetic works to improve the appearance of the buildings."

Cosmetic works in the pipeline then and it will be interesting to see if the Co-op come forward quickly with more details. If you have a Facebook account you can contribute to the ongoing debate which the Co-op seem to be finally listening to.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

People Power..

Anonymous said...

i bet it takes another 2 years for co op to get finger out and get thinds sorted,i agree whole heartedly about a boycott,they would soon get it fixed it their profits dropped,next is council owned buildings,old centre,and houses,no excuse there,sell them to property developers,,even flats on the site would look better than the eyesores there at present,
bill

Anonymous said...

To those people urging us to boycott the coop I think they should realise most people who use it on a regular basis are people who do not have the choice of shopping elsewhere. Elderly,people who don't drive,mothers with young children. The coop is a lifeline to them and I think we should remember that before upsetting the coop. The mess was created by the incompetence of the council in the first place. Let them sort it out!

Graisg said...

Anon I have to agree that the state of the town centre is down to a failure of Highland Council Policy.
The Co-op could clean up the Regal however but you're right the Council have to get their finger out too.

I have a dream said...

The Regal building at the moment is in one hellava state but its of art deco design which if The Coop or someone or businnes could spend a bit of money on could turn into a Retro Style design can you imagine the look of the visitors & motorists when they pass through the town & catch a glimpse of the freshly brightly painted New Regal Building with on display inside works by artists,with local musicians & dramatic actors busy in the rehearsing rooms, children watching the cartoon films in the upstairs cinema,while next door mums & dads enjoy a bleather & a coffee with posters on the wall showing some of the old films that were once shown & posters advertising that Van Morrison is to play at the Regal in September & to watch out for the appearances of comedian Michael McIntyre,Adele,
Snow Patrol,Courtney Pine,who will visit Nairn in 2012,

Anonymous said...

A lot of old buildings including the Bus depot, could have been sold to developers, but there are too many objectors in Nairn thats why things don't get done. FACT. Business people are not going to wait 12 years like it has taken so far for Sandown to be developed.

Anonymous said...

with reference to anonnymous,re council created mess,this is not correct,the co-op ,s intentions were to develop supermarket,/petrol station /centre,and old council houses,but decided to try and hold council to ransom regarding planning permission from sainsburys,but because sainsburys were given permission,the co-op renaged on the deal,so now we are still left with eyesores,and co-op laughs at us,will it take someone to be hit by falling masonry before something is done?
typical council tho,,ohhh we cant do anything,,,our hands are tied,
i say,if they cant do anything,,VOTE THEM OUT,AND GET PEOPLE IN THAT CAN SORT IT OUT
also,i think if sainsbury,s didnt get permission,the co-op would have carried out what they said they would do,and hey,,,no need for all the damn traffic lights
bill.

Breathe In said...

Any more Huf & Puff and the place will fall down on its own accord.

Anonymous said...

Interesting how councillors on 15K plus each year get nothing done on the Regal and now it is left for the people that pay their wages to do the job they should have done a long time ago.
Yes vote them out!!!

Dream On said...

I have a dream ? surely an Absolute Nightmare.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know who owns what in that part of Nairn?

Graisg said...

Yes the NICE people did some research into this. Contact them here if you want the details.

http://www.nicenairn.org.uk/

Anonymous said...

auld fairlie will be spinning in his grave if he saw his beloved regal in state its in now,
bill

Archie Tect said...

This high-profile public campaign is overdue... but also high risk.

The Co-op has made clear that they don't want, and can't use, the Regal or the derelict filling station. Pressure on the Co-op, with or without a shopping boycott, is very likely to accelerate their efforts to sell the sites off for development.

The risk is that then, just like the bus station and the Rosebank Church, the buildings will pass into the hands of some anonymous developer who will care even less about the appearance of Nairn town centre. Any such developer is likely either to go for a quick profit and apply to build lots of houses; or just to let the buildings decline further until the economic situation improves enough (in many years' time?) to offer the possibility of a lucrative commercial redevelopment.

Sometimes it is better to deal with the devil you know....

Of course the sensible thing in the short term would be for the Council to invoke the powers it has to insist that the current owners of these various buildings actually take action to keep them presentable and in good repair. But will our esteemed Council act? Don't hold your breath!

Anonymous said...

Well done to the Facebook campaign. Co-op will probably now sell the King st shop rather than the High St one

Graisg said...

Maybe they could sell one of them to Tesco - a wee tesco metro would bring even more competition to Nairn.