Big Slide, pigeons and seagulls – Nairn River CC back Westies and Subbies initiatives

Last night are River CCs regular meeting in the URC hall Fred Holmes said to his colleagues:

“Can I say something about the West and Suburban Community Councils? As you have probably read in the Nairnshire, they are taking forward proposals, ideas and requesting Freedom of Information concerning the Slide, the embankment, the seagulls. As these things are all pertaining to Nairn, not just one particular area, can we as a Community Council fully back the West and Suburban Councils?”

Brian Stewart from the Westies was present, he said: 

“I think it is welcome if all three community councils, in a sense join forces, and make the views of our residents plain to the local authority. On the gulls and the pigeons, which is not a freedom of information thing, it’s really, it’s something that comes up every year on all our councils in one way or another. We have recurrently urged the council to take a lead in coordinating some kind of strategy to control and ultimately get rid of the gulls.”

On the big slide issue Simon Noble said: “I have heard from a number of residents, total dismay at the removal of the slide, not only that but also complete removal of the mound where the slide originally was and a number of people have expressed total bemusement as to why the mound was then dismantled in the way that it was after the slide was taken away and after there was a furore about that.”

River CC members agreed unanimously to back their West and Suburban colleagues.

Delnies Community Woodland gets a clean up.

Recent concerns about fly-tipping and worse in Delnies Community Woodlands have been addressed it seems. More information in the latest posts on the Friends of Delnies Community Woodland facebook page. 

Drew and Stephen - two for the price of one today in the Nairn sunshine

An image of the Westminster SNP candidate and the Highland Council Nairn by-election contestant together in the spring sunshine today (Drew Hendry and Stephen Fuller). Are you a Westminster or Council by-election candidate out in the thick of it in Nairn? If you are send us images of your campaign activities and we'll be delighted to publish on the Gurn - Danny and Ritchie, Mike and Chris or Indy pictures - all welcome. 

Glorious day for campaigning in Nairn with @FullerNairnSNP @AlynSmithMEP #GE15 #VoteSNP #AlreadyWorking pic.twitter.com/PHsBXDpTLH
— Drew Hendry (@drewhendrySNP) April 8, 2015

Costs of Highland Council's Kingsteps access court action still not known

The Gurn has seen correspondence between Murd Dunbar and the Chief Executive of Highland Council. Murd had been interested to find out information on money spent on various other access issues. This observer would imagine that there are other Gurnites who would also like to know the final bill for the aborted court case against Alexander Brodie but they will be disappointed (for a while anyway). The Highland Council's Steve Barron told Murd in a letter: 

"In relation to costs of the court action regarding the access at Kingsteps, these are not currently known as the other party's expenses are yet to be agreed."

Back in January Alexander Brodie was told he could claim expenses from Highland Council when they abandoned their action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh (details on this BBC page). 

Beer festival news

Nairn District Pipe Band rousing the festival crowd on Saturday. A great start to the festival. On all week! pic.twitter.com/CBm5pBmkg8
— Bandstand Beer Fest (@NairnBeerFest) April 6, 2015

The sunny day that was

Easter Sunday was a tremendous day which culminated in a marvellous sunset. Here it is seen from the East Beach.

Here's a ten minute version for any Gurnites so inclined. 

Problems at Delnies Community Woodlands - concerns raised on Facebook Page

One of our regular readers earlier today pointed us in the direction of a facebook page entitled  "Friends of Delnies Community Woodland". There are claims of fly-tipping, including sacks of excrement, a burnt out car etc. More details and images here on this facebook page. 

Nairn 1 Forres 2, Player awards, last game for the Cow Shed, pictures Donald Matheson and Mashy Young

Click the read more tab to see images from Donald Matheson and Mashy Young.

Photography - Dave Shillabeer's winning streak continues

Full Screen slide show of images here.  Individual images here. 

Dave told the Gurn: "These three images were submitted for a competition in Inverness and the results were announced last night. The category was 'Street Photography' which has a wide interpretation but the first, 'Companions' had to go into an open section. This was because it was taken on Nairn beach (clearly not a street) early one morning with the mist just clearing. It was taken on a small pocket camera which I always carry with me.

 The 2nd, 'Kings Cross Mezzanine walker' was taken early this year with the same camera up on the Mezzanine walkway of Kings Cross Station. This is above the waiting area where all the food franchises are. The effect was made possible by the size of the camera as I was able to hold it up UNDER the handrail and wait for someone to walk into the shot. 

The 3rd and Trophy winner was taken over in Cromarty. It was shot with a DSLR. The old man was slowly meandering down the alley so it was a case of waiting to get him in the right position. He suited the environment perfectly but the shot didn't work in colour. I tried it in Black & White which made it better then hit on the idea of giving it a sepia tone to complement the age quality of the image. The shot would have been equally as good with my pocket camera. That's it, it's all downhill from here."

Nairn 0 Brora 3 Pictures from Donald Matheson and Mashy Young

Individual images from Donald Matheson here. 



Individual images from Mashy Young here.