Black lab now missing (Sunday 3rd November) - scared by fireworks

Sarah  told the Gurn:  "Our dog, Skye, went missing tonight, we think she heard fireworks and bolted. She's a black Labrador, leaner-looking than most labs as she is a quarter poodle. She is black, flat-coated, has a green collar with bones pattern on it, and is micro-chipped. Please share with others in the area, and hopefully someone has seen her."

She also said that the police have  the details if you find her dog.

UPDATE: Monday 08.30 - Black Lab returned home. 

Evening 3rd Nov - young female Westie dog found in Mill Road area of Nairn

A young female Westie dog has been found in the Mill Road area of Nairn at approx 18.45. The Nairn police don't have the dog but have details of how the owner can contact the person who currently has the dog or contact the gurn on info@gurnnurn.com.

UPDATE 22.49 Westie reunited with owner

Huntly 1 Nairn 3 more pictures

Individual images here. Also available on flickr images from Kenny MacLeod.  And previously unseen Gurn images of the last game of last season, also against Huntly and also played in very heavy rain. 

Huntly 1 Nairn 3 - pictures from Donald Matheson

Yesterday in Huntly it looked just like it did in May when the legions of the faithful were through for the last game of season 2012/13:  rain, rain, rain and torrential rain but it was colder and darker as well to add to the challenge of surviving 90 minutes on the terraces - let alone on the park! Pies and hot drinks were snapped up by the visiting fans. On the pitch, Huntly were first on the score sheet but once Les's men found their swamp legs there was no stopping the skill levels shining through despite the heavy condition of the park. Great goals from Leslie, Gethins and Duncanson to make it a perfect day for County fans despite the inhospitable conditions. Pictures from County photographer Donald Matheson including a great shot of Calum diving to stop a Huntly shot. Individual images here.  

Flooding alert issued by SEPA overnight 2-3 November

One of our regular readers reports the following message on the SEPA website:

"Message valid from 02-11-2013 11:48 to 03-11-2013 11:48

A FLOOD ALERT has been issued for Findhorn Nairn Moray and Speyside. 

A band of rainfall is expected across Findhorn, Nairn, Moray and Speyside on Saturday afternoon becoming heavier and more intense overnight, particularly in western parts of the alert area. The accumulated totals are expected to cause river levels to rise and flooding of low lying land is possible, especially for parts of the Spey catchment." Full alert page here 

A flood alert is the lowest of SEPA's three tier warning system. More information here.  Our correspondent receives flood alerts on his phone. More information about how to make use of  that service  here. 

Flu vaccine supply problems - “IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PATIENTS OF NAIRN HEALTHCARE GROUP"

This received from Barbara Graham, the practice manager at Nairn Healthcare Group:

“IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PATIENTS OF NAIRN HEALTHCARE GROUP.  Due to problems in the flu vaccine supply chain, our suppliers are unable to fulfil our vaccine order.  We have enough stock to allow us to continue with those patients who have already made an appointment for their vaccination, but cannot take any more requests for vaccination until the new stock arrives.  We are working hard to source alternative supplies and will keep you updated via our practice website and our Patient Participation Group.  Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused."   The Healtcare group's site is here. 

Controversial wind farm proposal for Cairn Duhie on the Dava - video of meeting at Glenferness Hall (01/11/13)

The meeting in the Glenferness Hall was well attended with around 70-plus people in attendance. It was a generally polite, if at times passionate, debate. The floor heard from three speakers, one for, one against and from a representative from the company which wish to build the wind farm on the Dava at Cairn Duhie. The pressing concerns of how the development would affect the lives of those close to it were articulated in a persuasive manner, equally compelling at times to this observer were the views of the guest speaker who spoke in favour of wind energy, the rep from the company planning the development also spoke with conviction too.

This was the Nairnshire version of a debate that is being played out all over Scotland as the dash for renewable energy continues and the ripples of that sometimes polemic discussion finally reached Glenferness last night. There were many valid and powerful points made by both sides. When it came to a vote there were only 2 in favour of the wind farm and 3 undecided. Many present were very much sympathetic to the arguments for generating renewable energy but thought that the Cairn Duhie proposal was too big and too near and would spoil the (managed) wilderness of the Dava. Some even went as far to express the spiritual aspect of the landscape that is the Dava. The effect on tourism and wildlife was mentioned too; the contributions the company would make to the community and to individual households to alleviate their energy bills; potential ecological impacts were aired; an accusation of “greenwash and spin” was made against the windmill lobby; industrialisation of a wilderness and much more – a lot of it outlined in the video below

 A member of the East Nairnshire Community Council present told the meeting that all 966 residents in the Community Council area would be receiving a ballot paper to express their views for or against the proposal.

Following the vote at the end of the meeting a fair number of people stayed behind to begin the mechanics of setting up an action group. There already is a website “Dava no More” here. The video below is from the initial period of the meeting before debate was thrown open to the floor and became less structured, it does show a few question and answer moments however, and although it is quite long it will hopefully give those that couldn’t attend the meeting a good idea of what happened last night. The profile of the Cairn Duhie application will obviously now gather momentum as the fledgling action group swings into action.

The Cairn Duhie issue hasn’t generated much debate in the town yet. Perhaps we all should pay more attention though, particularly after the result of the forthcoming ballot of all East Nairnshire residents, and maybe when a planning application comes then other Nairnshire CCs will consider that application in the light of whatever decisions their colleagues in the East make? It is after all part of a major debate that we are not immune from, beyond the sheer physical presence of 360 ft turbines and the effects on the lives of those close to the proposed wind farm (plenty said about that in the video too) there lies the question of how we generate the electricity for our energy greedy society. We have to act now to ensure the lights don’t go out in the future but would Cairn Duhie be, as someone suggested last night, “the wrong wind farm in the wrong place”? Perhaps the video might help you form an opinion. 

Principal speakers are James MacKessock-Leitch (Scottish Green Party), Simon Feltenberg (RES), Pat Wells (long standing objector to wind farms). Apologies to cutting Simon short at the end mid way through a response (there are another six minutes of Simon here - if we have time we'll put the two videos together - hope we've spelt your surname correctly too Simon. Gurnites may wish to turn the sound up on their devices at times when watching the video, there wasn't a microphone available to members of the audience and some of the questions might be heard to hear for some. Thanks to the organisers and the speakers who agreed to the video at very short notice.

Saturday morning miscellany.

The Gurn article reporting that CC members are looking for a bit of office accommodation from Highland Council prompted some sharp and occasionaly  witty debate which doesn't quite seem to have drawn to a conclusion yet. More here.  Readers following that conversation may be interested to know that according to the Northern Times, Highland Councillors and senior officials may all be issued with i-Pads to help cut down on the expense of printed material. Thanks to the regular reader who sent that link to the Gurn. 

Regular unreliable sources report the following rumours regarding vacant retail premises on the High Street: 1. A charity shop about to flit to new premises? 2) A national sandwich store franchise to open soon. 3) Another Nickle and Dime type premises. Who knows, but it’s good fun to speculate perhaps, hopefully some of the empty premises will be back in use soon?

There are some Gurnites that like to make the occasional trip to Forres for a bit of shopping, taking in Tesco and/or Lidl perhaps, finishing off with a trip up the High Street there. The Forres Gazette reports that  the town's branck of M&Co (formerly Mackays) will be closing. It will be a big blow to the High Street of our neighbouring town.

Today the mighty Nairn County FC make their way through to Huntly to see if they can follow up last week’s comprehensive victory over the league leaders Formartine. Last season’s impressive campaign ended with a bit of a stutter and an against the form book defeat at Christie Park in heavy rain. The Wee County faithful will be making their way through along the A96 this afternoon in anticipation of a better result.

Last night there was a large public meeting in the Glenferness Hall to discuss the proposed wind farm on the Dava at Cairn Duhie. Later this morning we hope to post an analysis of that meeting plus a video of part of the proceedings. To the right of this paragraph is a copy of a leaflet placed on every seat in the hall last night. 

Movie night and a chance to “Rock your Socks off” fundraiser for Millbank School – Friday 29th November in the Community and Arts Centre

“Help raise funds for Millbank School whilst rocking your socks off with family and friends,” reads the promotional literature for this fundraiser. It will feature the acclaimed “Rock of Ages” film – It starts at 7.30 p.m, on Friday the 29th of November, tickets are £10.00 with a glass of wine included on the night. 

A Gurn reader’s unofficial guide to the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan Consultation – “What on Earth is the IMFLDP?” you ask.

There’s an weighty bit of planning consultation  starting today, that will go a long way to determine the shape of how Nairn and the rest of the Highland Council part of the Inner Moray Firth grows over the next two or three decades of this new millennium. There has been some media coverage already, yesterday it was on the front page of the P&J and today there is an article in the Courier.

 One of our regular readers has drafted an unofficial guide to the Inner Moray Firth Local Development plan with some FAQs such as “Why should anyone bother?” and “So how can comments be submitted?” etc.

The text is offered in good faith and designed to be helpful but it has to be stressed that it is not an authoritative document: it is intended as an unofficial guide primarily to help and encourage local residents of Nairn to comment in the consultation. It does not try to cover all angles. You can read a Gurn reader’s guide to the IMFLD plan here. The Gurn understands that the plan will be discussed too at the joint community council meeting to be hosted by River CC on the 6th of November in the URC hall.

More information about the IMFLDP is available here on the Highland Council website and from Highland Council officials. A press release explaining the plan is also available on this Highland Council page.