Comments on A Gurn from Nurn: Local Press review

"Lets have a straight yes-no vote by resident...

2010-02-05T12:39:25.294Z

"Lets have a straight yes-no vote by residents of the three community ward areas"

Referendums might seem like a good idea but they are very costly.

Could be not let matters rest with our CC's?

Don't you all think, it is up to the residents...

2010-02-05T12:05:12.225Z

Don't you all think, it is up to the residents of the three community
councils to decide the way forward.
Lets have a straight yes-no vote by residents of the three community ward areas.That should settle it once and for all?

Few people attend all the CC's meetings, a lit...

2010-02-05T09:03:47.872Z

Few people attend all the CC's meetings, a little too much I think you'll agree?

Another reason to have just the one CC which might attract more voices from the floor as it were?

@ working perfectly The Nairnshire of course only...

2010-02-05T08:45:57.855Z

@ working perfectly

The Nairnshire of course only prints an account of meetings. Those who attend meetings will have the pleasure of hearing everything. All of Nairn's community councils don't mind folk from other patches turning up at their respective meetings so if you want to know what motivates any individual why not go along to the next meeting and listen and ask questions too?

I agree that we need one Community Council, but I ...

2010-02-05T08:34:14.955Z

I agree that we need one Community Council, but I do take issue with the comment made by Mal Function with regard what s/he calls sniping

All of us have a voice in our community and we have the right to disagree with anyone's opinion even if it is someone in a community post

Community Councillors do an excellent job but that doesn't mean that as soon as anyone dares to criticise or make an opposing comment that they are having a knee jerk reaction.

To hold such a view means you are in effect putting Community Councillors in glass cases, not something I would want and I'm sure they wouldn't either

Thoughtful debate is that which is open, there is nothing wrong with suspicion you just have to prove it!

Perhaps Graham Vine will make public (if he hasn't already) the reasons for his objections to the Bailey Bridge

I think it's a great pity to see comments like...

2010-02-04T13:38:42.606Z

I think it's a great pity to see comments like that of Anon at 8.53am above, who said
"I hold the suspicion that the West Council only reformed to fight the Sandown issue and its involvement in other matters is just to try and legitimise its new existence..

Why is it that the kneejerk reaction of some folk in Nairn is always to question the motives of those who become involved in community activity, and to presume that they are driven only by parochial self-interest?

As it happens, the Sandown development is actually within Suburban CC's parish, and Suburban were on the case, with others, long before the West CC was resurrected.

But it would be narrow-minded to say that it's nothing to do with River or West CCs. Projects like Sandown (or Sainsburys, or Somerfield/Co-op, or for that matter the Bailey bridge) affect the whole town. All residents should be concerned - which is why it's quite proper for Mr Vine, or indeed members of any and all the CCs, to engage on such issues. It would just be so much more effective to do so in a single forum.

It's good to have thoughtful debate. But it would be better to have less suspicion and sniping, and more support for those - like CC members - who are trying to reflect local views and to make Nairn a better place.

From what I've see the West campaign on many i...

2010-02-04T12:11:33.574Z

From what I've see the West campaign on many issues and perhaps just as important to them as Sandown is their desire to see a single Community Council for Nairn.
Personally I'm very glad that they are there.

I agree that a new Baily bridge would attract a lo...

2010-02-04T11:57:14.783Z

I agree that a new Baily bridge would attract a lot of traffic from the A96

Sardonic make an interesting point with regard the...

2010-02-04T08:53:48.388Z

Sardonic make an interesting point with regard the re opening of the Bailey Bridge, that of traffic.
I hold the suspicion that the West Council only reformed to fight the Sandown issue and its involvement in other matters is just to try and legitimise its new existence.
I was trying to fathom as to why Mr Vine might oppose the re opening of the Bailey Bridge and of course it could be because of the rat run problem that the WC has already mentioned in recent months.
If the bridge were to be reopened to road traffic it would mean that of an evening east bound traffic could snake its way through Sandown, the West end, Fishertown, Bailey Bridge, and then up the Maggot back onto the A96. I know when the bridge was open this was a route that some drivers took, and with the extra congestion through Nairn of an evening I would imagine drivers would get wise to the diversion to avoid the town
Mr Vines interest would be to try and discourage extra traffic through the West end

Fishertown folks have been asking the same questio...

2010-02-03T21:18:04.041Z

Fishertown folks have been asking the same questions for a long time,
with regards to the bus service.But
unfortunately no one has yet given a positive response.Time for a rethink?

I don't recall ever agreeing with Councillor G...

2010-02-03T10:24:41.769Z

I don't recall ever agreeing with Councillor Graham Vine before, but I too would like to support the call for the Bailey Bridge to remain a pedestrian area

The narrow footpath on the bridge meant that many folk with prams and young families often walked on the road part of the bridge anyway

As a cyclist I also appreciate the closure to cars. It means bikes leaving the river cycle path can continue safely over the bridge, an important safety net for young cyclists

And thirdly (sorry boys and girls) it stops boy racers from having a circuit. I appreciate that they still use the harbour, but when the bridge was open to traffic they also used to speed up and down Maggot Road

If the bridge were to reopen, I can also see that it would become a bit of a rat run for the new residents of the Maggot flats (Riverside View?) as they tried to avoid the awful junction that will meet them each morning beside Peter Greens (Maggot Road/A96 junction)

Murd Dunbar is nobly doing the rounds of the three...

2010-02-03T00:57:09.323Z

Murd Dunbar is nobly doing the rounds of the three Community Councils to gather support for his campaign for the Firhall Bridge (which of course is used by residents from all parts of town).

Good for him. But this is yet more evidence - if it were needed - that the town ought to have a single, united, Community Council. Easier for active residents like Murd to share views and join forces, better for discussion, and a more effective way of lobbying the authorities.

Gurnites who agree should write to the Highland Council's review team - see details at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2009/September/2009-09-18-01.htm - to support the idea of a unified CC. There needs to be public pressure for reform to happen.