Latest Council goings on from Paul Oldham - budget gap of £60-70 million to find and other news

 All the latest from Paul here. 

Police appeal for information following damage to play equipment and outbuildings at Rosebank Primary

The Police Scotland, Highland Islands Facebook page reads:

We are appealing for information after significant damage was caused to play equipment and outbuildings at Rosebank Primary School Nursery, Nairn.

The damage was caused during the October school holidays and is thought to have occurred specifically during the evening of Thursday 19th October.

Enquiries have established that noises were heard in the school grounds during this time and young people were seen in the grounds of nearby Millbank Primary School the same evening where attempts were also made to start a fire.

Anyone with information regarding either incident is requested to contact Police Scotland by phoning 101 quoting reference 1421 of 23rd October, 2023.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.

County legend leaves club to manage Clach

 

We can confirm that Conor Gethins has left the club to become the new manager of Clachnacuddin.

We all wish Conor the very best in his new venture and thank him for his fantastic contribution to Nairn County. Details:https://t.co/8VZja4Id33#ncfc #nairncounty #ItsaNairnThing pic.twitter.com/hvuMi6rGTB

— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) October 22, 2023

300 homes for Delnies and all the rest of it - Cllr Paul Oldham gives you an insight into the planning application in the latest article on his website.

There's a lot to take in folks but Cllr Paul Oldham has produced what amounts to a quick guide to this latest planning application for Delnies. Below is a snapshot from his site. You can read his article here. Paul also links to the application pages on the Highland Council website. 

 

 

McLean Court residents looking for some garden help Saturday morning 28th of October

 

Three local community councils fall into abeyence

"Cawdor & West Nairnshire, East Nairnshire and Nairn West & Suburban failed to attract half the maximum membership so won't be established for the new term," states Highland Councillor Paul Oldham on the popular social media page Nairn our Town. 

He goes on to say: 

"The other two Auldearn and Nairn River did get at least 50% so will continue but not over 100% so there will be no election, and they may need to co-opt to top up their membership.

East Nairnshire was already not operating but the loss of Cawdor & West Nairnshire and Nairn West & Suburban, both very active community councils, will be sorely felt.

 

The next opportunity for nominations to be made to those Community Council’s will be in January 2024"

Nairn Woman turns trash into cash

Lisette Davidson wins £250 through Keep Scotland Beautiful's partnership with LitterLotto

A Highland woman has turned trash into cash and won £250 thanks to an innovative partnership.

Lisette Davidson is a winner of the partnership between environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful and behaviour change app LitterLotto.

The partnership, launched in November 2022, encourages more people to bin their litter and offers weekly prizes ranging from £50 to £500.

Lisette, from Nairn, believes the initiative is a great way to help keep Scotland beautiful and encourage people to start litter picking.

The 59-year-old said: “I’ve always been a litter picker. We used to go for walks when my children were little, we’d take them for walks and we’d take a bag with us, although there wasn’t quite as much litter as there is now, but we’d always take a bag and pick it up as we went along.

“When we went for picnics we’d always take our litter with us too. I’m a keen recycler and reuser as well.

“We’ve always been keen but more so now we live near the sea, I just hate to see litter on the beach.”

Lisette, as well as being a committed litter picker, is also a keen competition entrant.

When asked about Keep Scotland Beautiful’s partnership with LitterLotto, she said: “[It’s] the perfect chance to combine my love of entering competitions as a hobby with the fact I love keeping the place I live beautiful and protecting nature.

“Just this morning I picked up an enormous piece of long, blue rope that had been tied around a bush. Any animal getting caught in that could be in serious trouble.

“When you see things like that, or broken glass, it makes your blood boil, and you wonder how can people be so thoughtless?”

Not content with getting involved herself, Lisette has managed to spread the word to others too.

“If I’m taking a picture of binning litter and someone walks past while I’m doing it, I’m telling them all about it because I’m so passionate,” she said. “Why shouldn’t you be rewarded for doing something that is helping everyone?”

Lisette said the place she lives is a popular place for people to visit, but stressed everyone must take responsibility for their litter.

She said: “Animals are ingesting plastic which is wrong. If my husband and I go for a walk along the beach, we’ve rescued squid and starfish, but apart from that we’re picking up plastic, bottles.

“If people don’t have the responsible attitude to take their litter with them, all the wildlife that they come to see in this part of the world is going to die. It’s terrible.”

Lisette believes this initiative is a brilliant way to get people involved in litter picking.

“A monetary incentive is a start, and it’s a huge start,” she said. “But the reality is if people listen to their own conscience and start off in a small way, by doing a little bit here and there and other people get to know about it, it’s like a chain and other people will get more excited about it.”

Catherine Gee, Deputy Chief Executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I’m delighted to see that Lisette has been rewarded for doing the right thing through our partnership with LitterLotto.

“This collaboration is all about encouraging people to help tackle the country’s litter emergency and it’s brilliant to see people across the country getting involved.

“I’m looking forward to seeing many more Scottish winners benefitting from helping to keep Scotland beautiful.”

Carly Di Crescienzo, Local Authority Campaigns Manager at LitterLotto, said: “It's great to see our Scottish users benefiting from this regional jackpot.

“We hope that our partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful will encourage others to get involved.

“Our users help keep their communities clean and green and with LitterLotto you can win cash while doing good.”

The LitterLotto app is available to download for free on the App Store and Android Store.

This innovative venture is one of the many ways Keep Scotland Beautiful is tackling the litter emergency. A recent national poll conducted by the environmental charity found that two thirds of people believe that litter is an issue in their local area, and 87% that it is an issue across Scotland

Visit the LitterLotto website for more information.

A wee blether with Nairn Academy Support Staff strikers 26/09/23

 The Gurn headed up to the junction of Duncan Drive and the A96 this morning to have a wee blether with the Nairn Academy support staff who are striking for a better offer from COSLA.

 

A sunny day on the Links for 'Wheels of Nairn' 2023

 A few pictures from Wheels of Nairn 23rd September 2023

A tradition returns as the massed pipe bands march down to the Games from Viewfield