'A Royal Burgh Community Council for Nairn' - now you can have your say!

The second stage of the Community Council review has been launched. The Highland Council website states:

"21 proposed boundary amendments emerged from the first phase of consultation. A further 14 proposals were received and recommended for further discussion locally during phase two of the consultation process.'

One of those proposals up for debate is for a Single Council for Nairn. Two of three Councils, Suburban and West, want to see a single Council, the remaining Council didn't so there has to be further debate. Nairn needs to speak with a single voice, it is time to get involved to assure that that can happen in the future. You can have your say by the following means:

'There are a variety of mechanisms through which to respond including post, email and via a discussion forum on the Council’s website. Discussions will also be held at some Ward Forums and area community council forums, which will be publicised locally. Copies of the consultation will be available from Service Points and libraries.'

Here's the councils online forum. Registration only takes a couple of minutes and then you can add your views. There is already some comment about Nairn's situation :-)

Petition to protect Nairn Swimming Pool from potential closure

The Gurn has been informed that there is a petition now circulating the town to prevent Highland Council considering Nairn Swimming Pool for closure.

Copies of the petition can be obtained from Atmosphere and other High Street shops. As part of their proposed cuts programme Highland Council are looking at closing some of the 12 swimming pools they run. This petition seems to be a quick 'heads up' to alert the community to the threat to the Pool and to make sure Nairn is not on the list for potential closure.
Can you imagine a holiday town without a public swimming pool? A town surrounded by so much water where children would have nowhere to learn to swim? Let's make sure the Highland Council powers that be know Nairn's feelings.

Copy of the petition now available here.

Nairn County have a home game tomorrow

Martin Shand informs the Gurn that Nairn have a home game against Keith tomorrow. 'Cup game is not on due to there being weather in Keith, usual time and place, pass it on please,' says Martin.

Maggot Flats moving towards completion

Nairn Book & Arts Festival Launch - Picture

From today's press launch for the Nairn Book and Arts Festival. Angela McOwan and John Fyfe in the picture. Details of the 2010 festival in this previous Gurn article.

Community Councils being ignored? - Stirrings of protest in the Highland Capital

Tory activist Liz Gilchrist carries another interesting article on her blog today. She has published a letter from Veronica Mitchell, Chair of Inverness South Community Council, in her intro to the letter Liz asks:

'Is nobody is listening to us? Or they are listening and will not compromise, as the developers have control. I’m afraid it does appear like that and as a result there is massive unrest in communties now.'

Here's a taste of the letter from Veronica:

'Why are public concerns and views being ignored? Why are local pressure groups being formed?Development must go forward but the Highland Council and the Councillors, who are elected into office by the local people, are not listening to the public. At best it is ‘lip service’ at worst we are just ignored. This happening throughout the country, why?
The Scottish Government has granted Community Councils the status of being statutory consultees, and should be recognised in their local area accordingly. The Highland Council may ask for the opinion of a Community Council but the comments do not appear to have any impact on decisions taken by the Highland Council.'

Is there a bandwagon of public protest gathering serious momentum in Inverness now?

Read more on Liz Gilchrist's blog.

Loch Ness sea planes terminal row

Another controversial project has reared its ugly head:

'PLANS for a huge floating terminal which could rival Tyneside's famous "Angel of the North" have surfaced on Loch Ness to bring in well-heeled tourists from around the world by seaplane.
But the controversial idea could be scuppered by a determined campaign by the green lobby, which is even enlisting the protection of Nessie to its cause.
advertising

A new and ambitious plan by a consortium of Highland businessmen will be submitted today (Thursday) to Highland Council's planning department which the developers say will complement two new harbours planned on the loch at the Clansman Hotel and further south towards Drumnadrochit.'

More on the Highland News site.

Box Office Opens for Biggest Nairn Book and Arts Festival yet!

Tickets for the 2010 Nairn Book & Arts Festival, which takes place between 5 and 13 June, go on sale tomorrow (2 Apr) as organisers unveil their biggest and most ambitious programme yet, with sixty events taking place over the nine days.
John Fyfe, Chairman of the Festival committee, said: “This year there is more variety than ever with top rate writers, theatre, art exhibitions, workshops, concerts, a musical celebration of whisky and first class stand-up comedy from Fred MacAulay. And for the first time we have a film programme. The festival goes from strength to strength thanks to the support of the local community.”

A major coup for the festival is an appearance by Britain’s first female Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy. Other highly acclaimed writers taking part include Christopher Brookmyre, John Burnside, Andrew O’Hagan, A L Kennedy, Sir John Lister-Kaye, Denise Mina and Allan Guthrie. Subjects covered will include travel, history, gardening, battlefield archaeology and the environment.
Films with literary connections will be screened, including the Woody Allen classic ‘Manhattan’ and hard-boiled detective fiction comedy ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’.

The Open Art Exhibition, launched last year with an exceptionally high number of entries, will this year be even larger, using both Nairn Court House and the Seaman’s Hall. And the shop windows of Nairn will once again put on a display of community art.
In addition to regular creative writing, painting and craft workshops, new skills are offered in sculpture and stained glass. The festival organisers are working closely with the local primary schools and with Nairn Academy, encouraging writing skills at all ages; and artwork from all schools will be on display during the festival.
The full line-up is available to see on line at http://www.nairnfestival.co.uk/. Tickets are available from Nairn Community Centre, Nairn Bookshop and on line at http://www.thebooth.co.uk/.

The Highland Wide Local Development Plan - following the consultation process

Over on the APT blog the forensic examination of this process continues. It is worth keeping an eye on the whole issue and we recommend a browse of this article (Delivering Major Developments - A Pre-Application Guide) and the accompanying comments by Nairnbairn. It might seem a bit of a dry subject but stick with it if you go there and you will see the potential concerns arising from the latest information available.

UPDATE: more information from the APT concerning a planning application for Croy 'South West'.

LIb-Dem Highland Council leader defends high Salaries at Glenurquart Road

The representitive of the the Lib-Dem part of the ruling administration has defended the high salaries paid at Glenurquhart Road. His quote can be read in the following extract from the Press and Journal:

' The six-figure salaries of Scottish council bosses came under renewed scrutiny last night after a UK-wide survey showed pay packages at the top of local government soared by 14% last year.
The figures for 2008-2009 – the latest available on a nation-wide basis – put Highland Council chief executive Alistair Dodds on total remuneration of £138,346, up 7.3% on the previous year.
His earnings have since risen to over £140,000 – with seven departmental directors at the council also earning more than £100,000.
His pay and that of top aides was strongly defended by council leader Dr Michael Foxley, who said: “He and his colleagues are value for money. They work extremely hard and receive less than others in the public and private sector in comparable jobs.” '

Read the full article here.