Countdown to Christmas will take place on Saturday, November 25 - lights switch on - two markets, live performances, street theatre and a Santa’s grotto

Community is at the heart of this year;s Christmas Lights Switch on in Nairn which will incorporate two markets, live performances, street theatre and a Santa’s grotto.

Countdown to Christmas, which will take place on Saturday, November 25 is being supported by a number of local businesses who have given donations to help the event go ahead.

Sainsbury’s, McDonald’s and the Co-Op are supporting the Santa’s Grotto with chocolatey gifts for the children who visit him at Nairn Library whilst Nairn Golf Club have made a financial donation to the event and West Country Trees has gifted three Christmas trees to the town.

The event will kick off at 10am with the lights being switched on at 4pm. It will take place over two locations, the Town Centre and Nairn Community & Arts Centre.

The event is being organised for a fourth year by Nairn Connects BID with support from Inverness Farmers Market and volunteers from the community. 

From left: Isla Thomson, Gordon Holding, Taya MacKenzie, Ali Asher, Hayden Craig, Tracey Botting, Lucy Harding (Nairn BID manager), James Jordan, Iain Fyfe and Morag Holding.

Nairn BID manager Lucy Harding said: “We are once again looking forward to a busy and exciting day over the two locations in Nairn. This event really is about community and bringing people together which is what Christmas is all about too.

“From 10am there will be entertainment from local bands and community groups in both the High Street and at the community centre. This year, our stage will be set up outside the town house with the street market running all the way the along the High Street. We have a circus skills workshop and fire breather which will be located at the Brae, and round on Lepold Street, we will have songs and story time from the Mad Hatters of Moray who will also be mingling with the crowds.

“There will be ponies, huskies and of course the opportunity to shop till you drop at our beautiful shops and of course from the stalls put in place by Inverness Farmers Market.

“The switching on of the lights takes place at 4pm and we have a Christmas decoration competition running for one lucky person to win the chance to switch them on.

“This is the start of the Christmas festivities for the town. We have seen restaurants launching festive menus, there are numerous events on including Twas the Night Before Christmas by CAST a newly formed theatre group and the panto Hansel & Gretel by The Little Theatre and there will also be carols at The Bandstand on the Links which is being supported by Morag and Gordon Holding from The Havelock and Paul Geddes from The Bandstand Bar & Restaurant. There is a lot to look froward to over the coming weeks.”

The Countdown to Christmas event will take place on November 25. Full details and timings are available on the Nairn BID website www.nairnconnects.com.

Nairn The Brae. Sustrans Places for Everyone (PfE) Concept Design Projec

 The Gurn has received the following press release outling how the brae consultation will go forward. It isn't without its critics however and regular readers of Nairn Social media pages will perhaps have discovred that already. Whatever your views there is no a chance to have your say on the High Street Brae's future:

Businesses and the public are being encouraged to attend the first consultation event regarding the possible pedestrianisation of the Brae in Nairn.

The event will take place on Monday, November 27 in the Nairn Community & Arts Centre from 6.30 to 9pm. It will provide an opportunity for the public to have their say and share ideas on how to shape the High Street.

The consultation follows a number of public consultations which were held in Nairn by The Highland Council in 2019 to find out how the local community felt about their town centre. One of the main themes to emerge was how to get around the area with less car dependency.

As result of these consultations, The Highland Council published the Nairn Active Travel Masterplan in 2021 which set out 16 interventions to support the movement of people by walking and cycling.

The aim for Nairn Active Travel Masterplan is to encourage more people to walk, wheel and cycle for their everyday journeys, making car use less dominant. The priorities include creating a walking, wheeling and cycling network, improving the high street pedestrian experience.

The Brae is identified within the masterplan as intervention number five.

To accelerate delivery of these interventions and provide much sought after improvement, during 2022, Nairn Connects Bid, in partnership with the Council submitted an application to Places for Everyone (PfE), an active travel infrastructure programme funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Sustrans Scotland.

The application was successful and £37,000 was secured to push forward with the feasibility study.

This funding will allow the consultants Connected Transport Planning, to explore how active travel can be incorporated into the lower section of High Street and look at options to improve the space and reduce the severance impact of the A96(T) between the Harbour and High Street.

Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee said: “Following successful funding through the scheme, consultants are now in place, and a community consultation event will be held later this month. These events will provide local residents and business operators alike the opportunity to have a say.”

Councillor Michael Green, Chair of the Nairnshire Area Committee, added: “This funding will enable the Council to explore how active travel can be incorporated into the lower section of High Street and explore options to improve the space and reduce the severance impact of the A96 between the Harbour and High Street. I would encourage local people to take part in the community consultation event and share ideas with us on how we can shape the local High Street.”

Nairn BID manager, Lucy Harding said: “This project has been a long time coming and we are delighted that now the funding is in place, things are moving quickly. We urge as many people to come along to give their views.

“The case for pedestrianisation has been raised in the past, but with Highland Council backing the idea in its Active Travel Masterplan, we anticipate a more receptive response in the current climate.

 

North Cup will be on display at Station Park this Saturday 18th

 

📷 Get your picture with the North of Scotland Cup Trophy

A lot of young (& older) fans were keen to get their hands on the trophy and get a photo with it on Sunday.

So, this Saturday at Station Park from 2pm - 2.45pm, the trophy will be on display for photos ahead of kick-off pic.twitter.com/QRGy1EWBXa

— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) November 14, 2023

A Community Newspaper for Nairnshire! Public Meeting Thursday 16th November 7.30 for 7.45 pm

Having trouble reading the text, click on image to enlarge.

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"