Looking after the shrub beds on the entrances to the town

Billy has contacted the Gurn once more about the state of certain shrub beds along the A96 on the western approaches to the town and also concerning another bed at River Park on the Grantown Rd. It is a shame that some of these stragtegic plantings are weed infested, more care should be taken over them during the year. The contrast between the state of some of these beds and others cared for by volunteers is striking. There seems to be some debate about whether the A96 ones are the responsibility of BEAR or not. The Gurn has forwarded Billy's concerns to one of Nairn's Highland Council members for their investigation. Previous issues concerning shrub beds highlighted by Billy have been resolved (see here), let's hope there's swift action on the remaining problem areas.

Could the maintenance of these areas be one of the functions that the Community Interest Company envisaged by Alistair Noble could take over?

Shrub Bed Clean-up by Council

Earlier this month we published pictures of the seriously untidy shrub beds in the cemetery field nearby to the areas that volunteers had planted up with thousands of bulbs. Billy reports that the Council have cleaned these beds up now. Billy sent a couple of pictures and here's a before and after comparision.

Nairn's appearance - more evidence of Highland Council neglect!

The above pictures are from the Cemetery field between the Grantown Road and the riverside walks. This is in an area where citizens have voluntary given up their time for two years running now to plant thousands of bulbs to brighten up this strategic approach to Nairn. Contrast the goodwill of the citizens with the failure of Highland Council management to keep the shrub beds free of weeds and couch grass. The appearance of these shrub beds is a total disgrace to a tourist town. Time to pay off a few more suits in Glenurquhart Road and divert more funds to the front line?

The Gurn was alerted to this situation by Billy who told the Gurn: "The shrub beds at the cemetery field are now looking bad and need a good weeding. It looks like with all the cut backs they are getting overlooked, and the beds on the A96 need some attention as well. I'm worried that a lot of the other ones around the town will suffer the same fate. This does little to attract visitors to our town or indeed for our local townsfolk, it seems such a shame when folk are putting in time and effort on planting bulbs and saving beds that were going to be grassed over."

This observer fills that it is time to involve the Royal Burgh of Nairn Community Council Forum in the administration of this type of service in Nairn. Perhaps the usual suspects can could come up with some imaginative suggestions that might ensure that the town's appearance is better cared for and the available resources are better deployed?

Highland Council: a third of the grounds staff went but all the managers were kept on!

"When the Grounds went out, we lost a third of the staff but we kept all our managers. Six managers just got reassigned other jobs at the same time and I just thought how can we lose a third of our grounds staff and keep all our managers. And now they just call them contract managers or else they’re performance managers. "

Liz* speaking at the River Community Council meeting earlier this evening in the Community Centre.

* Just a reminder for the non-regulars that Liz is Councillor Liz MacDonald, former Provost and indefatigable campaigner for the citzens of Nairnshire.

Grass-cutting going out to the private sector - Liz at Glenurquhart Road yesterday

This observer believes the grass-cutting boys do a great job keeping Nairn tidy during the summer months - will a private contractor be able to provide the same level of service? We only have to wait a few months to find out unless the full Council reverses a decision made yesterday. Nairn's appearance is paramount to our image as a holiday town - is hiving off the grass cutting to the private sector just a form of Russian Roulette?

Although it looks like Nairn Grass Cutting will be going out to private contractors some Highland areas will keep theirs. The Press & Journal states:

'Services in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross will be retained by the council, but the contracts for the remaining areas will be given to external contractors next year. It excludes core ground maintenance activities, including burials and cremations and flower beds. '

So Nairn takes another hit while others carry on as normal?

Liz was unhappy the matter was being discussed in private and wants to take the matter to the full council with a notice of amendment. More on the P&J website

Council may farm out culture and leisure services

And more news on further outsourcing measures to be possibly taken by the Council appear in the Herald Today.

Grass cutters required

Horticulture Week reports:

Highland Council is seeking contractors for grass-cutting services across the Highland area.

Nine lots are available and contractors can apply for one or more. Contractors will be required for the growing season - seven months of the year - but can extend annually for up to two years. The deadline is 30 August. Call 01463 703887 or email procurement.unit2@highland.gov.uk