Highland council closure threats harming eldery members of our community!

Shame on you Sandy Park - You have the power to stop this - Will you act or stay silent?

'A blind 89-year-old widow is heartbroken that the day-centre which has become her social lifeline is being shut down as part of budget cuts by Highland Council.
Forres-born Mary Lewis, a former nurse, said yesterday that she and others using the McLean Court facility in Nairn’s Albert Street were shocked by the council’s decision.
She was intrigued to know how those making the decision would feel if their parents faced the same plight.'

More information on the Press and Journal site.

Gurnites, we must protect the vulnerable in our society. Kick out the well-paid suits not the elderly from their day-centre. This shocking closure will only save the council £35,000. Get rid of the three Convenors instead and how much would we save?

It is time to get involved citizens - enough is enough. Our community is under attack.

Traigh Inbhir Narann aig dol fodha na grèine - Nairn beach at sunset

Perhaps we should just keep Nairn beach a secret? Picture will enlarge.

"A train Journey through film "

The Doc has put an idea forward to members of the cinema of dreams website, in there own particular countries of plans to make a short film, in what could be described as a worldwide effort. Here's the Doc's thoughts:

'The more i think about my wee idea of our train journey through film, the more it grows on me, I start of on a train in the highlands of scotland (just a quick 20 min journey) talk about films and film making in Scotland, edit it to around 5 minutes and then the next member in there country does a simular thing, jump on a quick train journey talk about film in there country including shots of outside the window and so on through europe,usa,China Australia and so on, yes it sounds a big project coz it is a worldwide effort, but if everyone is responsible for there own little piece of film and sends it on to me i could get it edited, you could use whatever media is avaiable to you, even cell phone clips would be acceptable if a camcorder is not avaiable, this by no means have to be in any way a professional affair ,Rough and ready just like the festival spirit ! why do you ask a train ? I think it makes the film have a theme to connect each piece together, and compliments a journey of film and a chance to see bits of that country through the window... you often find thats where you find the interesting sights of countrys is through a train window AM I MAD ? or could it be the next you tube sensation !!! or infact oscar worthy !!! '

Hugh McBean 1st class carer

Hughie and Mandy's hard work for others in the community has been recognised by a national paper. This week Hugh has been nominated for the Children’s Champions Award for his efforts in helping vulnerable children and their families.

'SELFLESS postman Hugh McBean knows all about handling with care.
For the first-class mailman provides invaluable respite care for families of vulnerable youngsters.
Hugh, along with wife Mandy, draws on the strength and experience gained caring for their own terminally-ill daughter Anastasia. '

Read the full story on the news of the world.

Gurnomonics – or, yes we have no milk today? A Coopnopoly beckons

A sign of things to come under the potential coopnopoly in Nairn? No milk on the shelves, too much snow this time but it could have been some other problem that stopped another vital foodstuff reaching Nairn. Somerfields still has its own supply but imagine if the Coop moves over the road and installs itself in that building or a new one that a passing extra terrestrial vessel might kindly beam down for us. Then with the Coop supplying Morning, Noon and Night and the Tradespark store too there would have been quite a shortage. Milk riots in Nairn?
The supreme irony of it all is that while the Coop shelves are bare of milk tonight there is enough milk up the road in the creamery to probably fill every bath in Nairn. And a workforce that from time to time has reason to worry about the future. Proof that supermarkets should be forced to source more goods locally? Let’s hope the future Sainsbury’s will be happy to have some supplies barrowed across the road. It is so silly that we don’t have more of a chance to buy the milk that is produced locally and thus help some of our friends’ and neighbours’ employment prospects. 
Nairn milk for Nairn shops?  

Thanks to Nairn Spelding for the mmmm, yes heads up, is what they say these days. Nairn Spelding is not to be confused with Spelding. 

They nearly lost the plot - 'Plot Tales' a new Nairn blog

Billy and Val are members of the Nairn allotment society and thanks to their, and the combined efforts of the Nairn Allotment Society, this is one little part of Sandown that will remain green no matter what happens next door. 'Plot tales' is their blog. Another addition to the Nairn blogosphere - could you be next?

AyeRight goes for a blonde

Figures from the High Street continue to point to a downturn with more of us adopting home hairdressing.  Supermarkets report an increase of sales of hair dye, with blonde being our favourite colour; apparently some folk think the colour will cheer them up. 
In the interests of journalistic research AyeRight was thinking of purchasing a bottle of blonde to try on his receding locks, but the Gurn fashion editor managed to dissuade him suggesting that his look was challenging enough already (Ed - for challenging read bad!)
Apart from shunning the hairdresser the coffee shop is also getting a swerve with supermarkets seeing an increased sale of instant coffee. It seems we are in the midst of a new DIY boom, whatever next?

The Nairn Academy scandal

'Nairn Spelding' gurns about the deplorable state of Nairn Academy.

Nairn's four councillors were under fire again last week for failing to attend a high profile meeting between Nairn Academy parents and Highland Council officials over the condition of the school.
It's a subject which does not surface much in the Gurn nor indeed I believe was it featured in Ian Fairweather's vision for Nairn (an excellent document none the less).
Let's hope the public of Nairn begin to waken up to this very important issue. The meeting was well covered by the Nairnshire Telegraph in this week's edition but it is a subject which is not going to go away and is going to require intensive lobbying from the public to bring about much needed improvements to the school.
Over 800 pupils attend Nairn Academy and the building is in a shocking state.
It seems it takes an HMIE report for Highland Council to begin taking action at failing schools and there is no doubt the report on Nairn Academy in 2007 was a damning indictment on the way this school has been neglected.
The council has now approved £1.8million to build a new science block and library which will release existing accommodation for extra classroom space. At present pupils are being taught in school corridors and anyone who has a child there will be able to tell you of their concerns.
Pupils are unable to concentrate on their lessons because where they are being taught is a thoroughfare for pupils and staff.
Add to that leaking ceilings, asbestos in the building which means teachers can't put pins in walls, heating and ventilation problems and inadequate accommodation and you'll get the overall picture.
It was clear from this meeting that parents and the public of Nairn is finally beginning to wake up to the serious problems that exist at the school.
The council is in dire straits financially but one official said the best way to get things done was for the Parent council to make its case as strongly as possible.
Time for us all to get on the case. A good secondary school is as important to the fabric of any community as a healthy vibrant shopping centre.

Nairn Spelding.

Planning objection John Hart wants you to plaigairise him

Just copy this letter and submit it to the planning department signed by you with your name and address at the top and you will make John Hart a happy man.

Highland Council,
Planning and Development Services,
Barron House,
88 High Street,
NAIRN IV12 4AU

[date]

Dear Sirs,

Proposed Development at Sandown, Nairn Ref: 07/00188/OUTNA
I refer to the notification dated 26 January 2009 received by me in connection with the above development.I wish to express strong objections to this proposed development for the following reasons –
While the Deveron re-submission purports to address many of the concerns of local residents it still fails emphatically as regards the density of housing nor does it address the traffic problems that a site of this size will consequently create. It fails to recognise that the Local Plan was designed to accept 130 houses into the area and that the Highland Council Development brief called for a maximum of 230.
The only way that Deveron can conceivably believe that 550 dwellings will pass planning consent is because Highland Council Officials have intimated and given an implicit but “unwritten consent” that 550 houses will be passed, perhaps with a cursory reduction, on approval, just to ameliorate “local concerns”.
The so called Deveron consultation process has been derisory in the extreme. Meetings at which the stakeholder local public were deliberately excluded, with only a few permitted to enter, due to the force of numbers. To add insult to injury the stakeholder local public were only admitted as “observers” and were not allowed to “comment”. What are Deveron afraid of; difficult questions that they are not prepared to answer?
It is interesting that Deveron should have recently engaged a PR agent, whose apparent underhand activities in Edinburgh resulted in the resignation of a Councillor!! (Mountgrange`s Spin Doctors Canongate Community Forum) . Is it significant that Deveron are on the 5 Feb 09 holding a further meeting with interested parties but which again apparently excludes the stakeholder local public.
I strongly reiterate my objections to this planning application and look to our Councillors to seek the views of the people of Nairn, whom they represent, and act in the people’s interest rather than just seeking to appease targets for affordable housing.

Yours faithfully

[your name]

Got £25,000 a year to spare?

Spurtle must be thinking about going into business?

Got £25,000 a year to spare? You could walk straight into this Nairn shop!

Add rates and water rates, totalling about £10,000 on top of that, plus getting your bins emptied, and getting the cardboard collected, and insurance etc.................................. You'd need to be making £1000 a week gross profit, just to pay the fixed costs of the business - let alone the costs of staffing the place, buying stock ..... and, if you prefer to operate in the ' big smoke', have a look at this page. I know it's a much bigger store than Nairn - but the rent is £210,000 a year - rates another £120,000 on top of that.

Spurtle needs to go for a lay down,I feel faint.

Thanks Spurtle that is quite an eye-opener .