Friday night miscellany – The bottleneck fills up with water again.

Regular readers will know that we have reported that Nairn’s Community Councils do not want to see any building at Nairn South until all the appropriate infrastructure is in place (including a bypass). They also state that the bridge under the railway is a bottleneck that needs to be sorted before development goes ahead. There is one school of thought that traffic lights would rectify this. However, never mind new infrastructure, can the existing drainage cope in this spot? Floods under the railway bridge are nothing new but the rainfall earlier tonight wasn’t exactly the worst you can expect in Nairn and it didn't take long for the problem to reappear. 

Thanks to our regular reader who sent us the link to this facebook page which shows an image of quite an amazing piece of cake. Obviously opening a new business is no small piece of cake.

NHS Highland are reporting on their website that Nairn hospital is presently closed due to an outbreak of norovirus. Further details here.

An event organised by the Nairn Citizens Advice Bureau, the NHS and the Highland Council takes place in the Community Centre on the 25^th of May and will focus on a topic that we must all one day face but are, quite naturally, often reluctant to contemplate.  The Nairn CAB site states:

“A new service that helps people in Nairn cope with the practical side of death and dying has seen a great level of interest, and is now hoping to reach even more people with a different kind of family day out in Nairn Community Centre on May 25th 11:30-4pm. Its objective is to get people to think about their own death now, in order to lessen some of the practical pressures for those they will leave behind.”  You can read more about what is planned in the Community Centre here on the CAB site.

Video highlights of the Wednesday Wick v Nairn game have been placed online by one of the Wick fans here. 

Matress scandal day 2 - Mr and Mrs Salty seen in the area

Fears are growing that Nairn Gows (gulls) have developed a symbiotic relationship with the matress. Seagull learned behaviour spreads fast and maybe a new national trend may emerge. Are Mr and Mrs Salty just chilling on a warm Nairn day or could they be up to no good with this dangerous piece of furniture?

Thanks to Jingle Bangles for this revealing and alarming image.

Threat to local tourism as man-eating furniture returns to the River Nairn

Here at the Gurn we have a long tradition of reporting news that will be unpopular with the authorities. We first spoke out in 2005. In 2009 we didn’t hesitate in making the public aware of the threat  that returned to the river ( a similar danger lurking in the same area and also in early May). We know there could be a potential knock on effect on visitor numbers but we cannot stand idly by as visitors stroll the banks of the river unaware of the danger lurking only feet away. Tonight we again publish an image that tells the uncomfortable truth.

The Gurn calls on Nairn politicians of all flavours and of none to move swiftly and resolve this situation. We can't keep this one under the covers anymore. Perhaps some of the 30 billion pounds earmarked for the bypass could be used to hire a helicopter that could drop a cage on the mattress which could then be rescued and returned to a more appropriate environment. 

Wick 1 Nairn 0 - pictures

Pictures from club photographer Donald Matheson. A valiant effort from Nairn but Wick managed to get the elusive goal in the 85th minute. Report here in the Highland News. 

Bringing grass cutting in Nairn back under local control - River CC’s statement of interest and plan to achieve that.

Last night at the River CC meeting in the URC hall Tommy Hogg outlined his organisation’s grass-cutting submission  to the Highland Council’s Community Challenge Fund.

He read out the proposal: “Our proposal is to assume responsibility for the maintenance of the common areas of the town of Nairn. Our immediate aim is to bring the management and prioritisation of the work under local control and to create employment for local individuals and contractors. Our long term aim is to capitalise on the pride of the local people in the appearance of their own environment and achieve improvements which will enhance the natural facilities available and the well-being of local people as well as the attractiveness of the locality to visitors. It is proposed that the services to be taken over be finalised in discussion with Highland Council and these would be based around grass-cutting, management of plants and invasive weeds, ( for example: hogweed, balsam etc, planting and pruning of trees, purchase and repair of benches and other park furniture. We believe this could be expanded to include the management of dog litter to enhance the engagement of the community in delivering the key outcomes the project will be required to engage other local groups, especially schools and youth organisations and those providing recycling services locally. We intend to manage these services through a formally constituted sub committee of the Community Council and with clear arrangements for governance and performance management. We have already developed a plan to enlist those areas within the River Community Council boundary. We have also invited our neighbours Nairn West and Nairn Suburban Community Councils to join in with us in the development of the plan to cover the whole locality.”

Tommy then said: “I know it is a big undertaking but I am convinced it could work.”

He went on to say that the proposal would be discussed by the Highland Council on the 13^th of June.

Brian Stewart (of the Westies) was present at the meeting too and he said: “It’s a suck it and see approach. Have a go, see how the Council react and see what works. It’s worth a try.”

Tommy added: We did get in touch with Liz and Colin and they were more than confident that it could be taken forward.

The River CC proposal, if it were successful, would go a long way to resolving a grievance that many have in the town over the way control of grass cutting was taken away from local control by the last Highland Council administration. Tommy and his colleagues also obviously feel that the present voluntary efforts that many (such as Keeping Nairnshire Colourful and Murd and his fellow river patrol squad) put into keeping up the appearance of Nairn could be considerably augmented and integrated into their plans to care for and enhance the local environment.

Delnies circular path update

We posted an article earlier this week "What happened to the Delnies circular walk" which included an image of the massive amounts of sand now covering parts of this popular walk. 

Colin had a meeting down by with the Highland Council's ranger earlier this week and he tells the Gurn:

"The Landowner (Cawdor) will liase with the farmer to see if they can plough away at least some of the sand."  

County "Fonzy" top for auction

Back in March County manager Les Fridge won the red card - yellow card competition at the "Afternoon with Stan Boardman" in the Legion. Les invested his winnings in a top for auction as part of the County Fans Ground Improvement Fund campaign. Why "Fonzy"? Stan Boardman was quite taken by Andy's stylish leather jacket and obviously saw a resemblance. Bids are being accepted on the fans "We Believe" facebook page.

Les pictured with Andy and the shirt on the steps of the Legion after County's game against Lossie on Saturday

Black Lab cross dog handed in to Nairn Police

Black Lab Cross dog handed in to Nairn office.Any info as to the owner call 101.
— BadenochStrath&Nairn (@BadenocNairnPol) May 8, 2013

  Update - We hear from Colin (Roach) that the dog has been collected :-)

Nairn St Ninian v Buckanhaven Hearts - pictures

A few pictures of the action at the Showfield on Saturday. Nairn 4 Buckanhaven Hearts 2. Individual images here. 

Enjoy a fish supper for £2.50 on Sunday 19th and raise funds for Wee County Fans Ground Improvement fund - music too - 12 - 5 P.M.

For full details of the music on Sunday the 19th in Castle Lane, Nairn High Street, head for this page on the Fans Fund raising site.   In the unlikely event of wet weather the music will relocate to the Stables Bar at the Star - again details on the fans Fish 'n hits page. There is a facebook event page for this event too which can be found here. Keep up to date with all the latest Ground Improvement Fund News here.  The Gurn also understands that some of the musicians may be having an impromptu jam session in the Star afterwards too.