Music - David Starr in the Invernairne Saturday (19th May)

Here's what he sounds like 

Royal Bank looks rank

The Royal Bank lawn in the High Street now looking very untidy as the morning sun casts shawdows on the long grass. Grounds maintenance budget closing down as well? Click to enlarge image.

"Our community has lost trust that their views and needs are being listened to or acted on by planners and other decision makers at Highland level." state Nairn River Community Council

Yesterday we published an article concerning the letter sent by Nairn River Community Council and five other local groups to Highland Council and the Scottish Government setting out their concerns over the lack of genuine "community empowerment" in Nairn. You can read that article here, well worth following the link there to the letter too. 

River CC have also filled in a document called a "participation Request" to Highland Council which is another quite remarkable document.  Such a request is something you can do under Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Here's a couple of extracts from the River CC request for you:

"Our community has lost trust that their views and needs are being listened to or acted on by planners and other decision makers at Highland level. 

Furthermore as a Community Council we are finding the current local government climate in Highland to be actively hostile to the principles of community engagement, consultation and collaboration, enshrined in the Community Empowerment Act 2015, as we have just suffered 60% cuts to Community Council operational funds, and are aware that a previous participation request from another local Community Council in Nairn was recently rejected by Highland Council without any support offered to resubmit. 

We ( NairnRiverCC) along with several other community led bodies are currently raising concerns with senior HC management, Planning and Community Planning leads and Scottish local government minister, at how the current development planning and community planning process in Highland is not meeting local community needs in Nairn, by failing to implement the core principles of the Community Empowerment Act 2015."

"We know that Nairn is not getting its fair share of Highland resources, and our community wants to be more empowered to influence how our Council and business taxes are being spent. We also want to see proper local governance, and control over how our own Common Good assets are being used to benefit our town. We expect the next Nairnshire Plan to be community led, in line with the principles of the Community Empowerment Act, and look forward to leading that process in partnership with local authorities, rather than being told what has been decided at Highland Council HQ in Inverness after it has already been agreed and rubber stamped by officials, with our elected members sometimes only in the loop a matter of days before."

Here's how River CC see outcomes being improved:

"Public Authorities in Highland will deliver for Nairn on the principles of the Community Empowerment Act by ensuring that

• local services and facilities are developed and delivered which meet identified local needs. ( including housing)
• the interests, economic resilience and wellbeing of Nairn's local communities take priority over a centralised Highland Council agenda.
• best value is derived for Nairn communities from council and business taxes and local Common Good assets 
• due diligence and an infrastructure first approach is observed in public authority relationships with commercial developers. 
• local plans are made more effective by drawing fully on local knowledge, expertise and experience available through Community Councils and other community led bodies 
• local communities have a key role in local planning in line with CEA
• public funds are not wasted in implementing plans or services which are unworkable or based on unrealistic revenue projections
• no proposals affecting Nairn are permitted to go ahead without a proper evidence base, business case and effective public consultationWe cite again as examples of recent practice which require 'doing it differently', the parking charges proposals and draft parking policy currently being imposed on Nairn by Highland Council without any local consultation or collaboration .

Such ill thought through proposals are not only financially unrealistic and wasteful, but also potentially damaging to Nairn's community resilience and local and tourist economy."

More details on the NRCC website here and you can read the full participation request document here. 

" Inadequate structures in place to support consultation and involvement of Nairn communities " A remarkable letter from Nairn River Community Council and 5 other local community groups to Highland Council and the Scottish Government

NRCC state on their Website:

"We have on Monday 6th May sent out a joint letter with 5 other Nairn community groups to the highest level of Highland Council and the Scottish Government and our elected representatives, to complain about inadequate structures in place to support consultation and involvement of Nairn communities in local development and community planning matters.

We are concerned that in Highland the principles of the Community Empowerment Act ( 2015) are not being effectively implemented, with potentially damaging effects for Nairn when decisions are taken without local consultation and due consideration of local priorities and needs."

Of course regular readers of the Gurn and the local media will know that the growing local democratic deficit with the claims that wishes of Nairn folk are being ignored as power became centralised in Inverness has been an undercurrent of concern for almost a generation in the town and surrounding area. This new initiative signed by, NRCC, Nairn West and Suburban Community Council, Croy and Culloden Moor Community Council, Association of Nairn Businesses, Nairn Residents Concern Group and Kingsteps Residents Group is a concise argument detailing the prime issues where many feel that local opinion has been and continues to be ignored.  

The crie de coeur this time by the groups that have signed the letter centres on the lack of local input at a time when Scotland is supposed to be moving into a new local democratic age of "community empowerment". To many things are as bad as the ever were with organisations from outwith Nairn still  making our decisions for us. 

The joint letter finishes:

"There is a common thread in all these issues: that the input of local community groups is blocked, excluded, or ignored. We therefore seek a positive assurance that this will change, and that current and future decisions on the planning, development, provision of facilities and delivery of services will be led by the community's own priorities, and that local groups will be enabled and encouraged to participate fully in the decisions.

This letter is copied to the Minister(s) responsible, to our local MSP, and to relevant public agencies. We would would welcome a response from all which provides that reassurance, and sets out in detail how our concerns will be addressed."

There is an article on the River CC site here and the letter can be read here. 

13. "

Ladies Day raises the roof for The Leanne Fund

An incredible £1,800 was raised at the first ever Ladies Day in Nairn in support of The Leanne Fund. 

The Leanne Fund is the foremost charity working across the Highlands and Islands and Grampian to support those affected by Cystic Fibrosis and their families. 

The event was organised by Ashley Patterson from Nairn who has Cystic Fibrosis and has received support from The Leanne Fund. 

Held at the Sun Dancer in Nairn, the event included a prosecco reception and afternoon tea. 

Ashley Patterson 

Ashley said: “I decided to host a Ladies Day to fundraise for The Leanne Fund. Over the past 5 years, the support the fund has given me has been incredible. From supporting me through driving lessons, special treats at Christmas time and allowing me to keep active with a gym membership - it was time I gave something back. 

“The Ladies Day included bottomless prosecco for a couple of hours, followed by afternoon tea. We raised a lot through our raffle and pick a square board! Our total for the day was a fantastic £1800! A great day had by all!”  

The Leanne Fund was set up in 2009 in memory of Leanne Mitchell from the Isle of Lewis. 

The charity funds special treats and a range of support services for young people affected by Cystic Fibrosis and their families across the region. 

Ashley with her Nana and her Mum

Since the Leanne Fund was founded it has continued to expand and develop the range of services and experiences offered in response to the needs of Cystic Fibrosis patients and their families. 

The Leanne Fund relies entirely on fundraising, sponsors and charitable donations to fund their valuable work. 

The Leanne Fund’s aim is to create happy memories now that can last a lifetime. 

Click on images to enlarge

For more information visit: 

www.theleannefund.co.uk

Email: info@theleannefund.co.uk 

Facebook.com/theleannefund 

Twitter: @theleannefund

The first of approximately 22 weeks of heavy loads passes through Nairn 9th May 2018 - video

The wind farm components are making their way to the Dorenall Wind Farm, South of Dufftown, leaving Inverness Harbour, planned daily departure of 9.30 am. The convoys are due to pass through Nairn between 10 and 10.30 am, this being the first one might have accounted for a slight delay there as the convoy passed the Lochloy junction at around 10.40. 

Concert in Nairn Old Parish Church - Saturday 12th May 7.00 pm

Parking charges: "the move will encourage shoppers to “abandon” high streets in favour of free parking at supermarkets..."

Another Parking Charges article in the Press and Journal today with folk outlining their major concerns that parking charges will damage Highland communities:

"David Richardson, Highlands and Islands development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said the move will encourage shoppers to “abandon” high streets in favour of free parking at supermarkets and retail parks, or do more shopping online."

And another quote: 

"Nairn Suburban and West Community Council chairman Richard Youngson is concerned with the failure to consult the local community over the charges.

He fears that any loss of town centre footfall will be compounded if the administration swiftly approves future plans for out-of-town retailers or food outlets.

Mr Youngson said: “We feel that putting in parking charges is just ridiculous. We are making a very strong case to Highland Council to say ‘Look, you have to listen. If you go down this road, all you will do is kill the town centres of Nairn, Dingwall and the rest.’"

More online here on the Press and Journal site. 

Parking charges for Nairn " no chance of stopping them"

We had recently written to the three Nairn Councillors who voted for the parking charges as part of the Highland Council budget plans to ask them what initiatives they have planned to stop the parking charges coming to Nairn. Cllr Tom Heggie did reply and told us that he would respond more fully when he had had meetings with his colleagues, in the meantime he told us he had given an assurance to avoid public debate at present, until the BID made some progress.

Cllr Liz MacDonald has not been silent however and has indicated at the recent West and Suburban Community Council meeting that she believes that parking charges are coming. More in today's edition of the Nairnshire Telegraph.

Police hunt vandals who damaged Nairn Beehive