Wednesday, September 21, 2016

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.

5 comments:

MURD said...

The Chair has mentioned what he wants for the future.
“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.

What I would lke to see and not in the dreams of the future. Something done about what already exists now is the DANGER removed for the users of the brae one of his priorities he forgot? to mention but maby not.
Could it also become tourist attraction? some whare you can drive on the wrong side of the road and pedestrians get struck by passing vehicles.
{Not something you find in many places }
He also for got to mention one of his quotes THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL has no money to do improvements.

Anonymous said...

In case Councillor Michael Green hasn't noticed the tide goes out a very long way at Nairn so dreams of Nairn being a water sport capital might necessitate boats having wheels.

Many boats can only get in and out of the harbour for a couple of hours at the top of the tide so it's not well placed to be any sort of centre of excellence

Highland Council haven't even been able to find a contractor to dredge the current harbour this year, and the east pier is in a very bad state of repair

I think Mr Green needs to consider reality and as Murd states the council has no money, even less now it's paid for so many redundancies with the knock on effect of having a lot less staff

If you want a blue print give some paper and crayons to the bairns, it's as close as we'll get to having one

Graisg said...

Gather some dredging is soon to take place anon

MURD said...

Ha Yes
Did we not have flying pigs and other animals during the the summer from the kite man??
Well pigs will fly on there own before Cruise liners will ever enter NAIRN.
The other point to consider what commercial value is there in dredging to remove millions of tons from the river? With just as much waiting to come down and fill it in again.

MURD

Nairn Seer said...

One day great ships will disembark at the town of Nairn

This will be in the late 1800/1900's

A century or more after that a man named Green will take over my job and predict great things

Hopefully his reign as Seer will prove to be be shorter than his predictions