NICE Nairn

Your town needs you again.

Are you still concerned about town-centre development? Would you like to have input to the future direction of NICE?

Join us at an open public meeting this Friday (11th) at 7.30pm in the Community & Arts Centre. Among issues to be considered is a proposal for NICE, along with other bodies, to become part of a Community Interest Company.

The directors’ met to discuss the next steps, further to their suggestion that the way forward on town centre and related community issues should be the formation of a Community Interest Company (“CIC”).
The following have been added to our Documents page:

Directors’ Meeting 28th Oct 2011
Community Interest briefing paper – 1 st draft

The latest news – hot off the press – is that after many years of inaction while the seagulls nested and the bus station slowly rotted, the developer who owns the abandoned building has just submitted a planning application.  The new building is listed as a supermarket with 12 flats above it, in a four storey building.  Others have described it as “a tower block with a corner store at ground level”.  The plans can be viewed at http://wam.highland.gov.uk/wam/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=LSCCN8IH7R000 .

Is this the right sort of building for such a key location in the town centre?  Will it improve the view, attract tourists and visitors, and help to revive the town centre?  Please give NICE your comments below.

….Once upon a time there was a little boy who stood up and bravely pointed out that the Emperor had no clothes….

Last month Nairn was scandalised when a local resident going under the pseudonym of “nairnbairn” nominated the town for consideration in the Urban Realm architectural magazine’s “Carbuncle Awards”.  Those who agreed with the criticisms seemed to be outnumbered by the vigilantes who called for “nairnbairn” to be named, shamed and run out of town.  Some argued that any publicity was good publicity, while others feared this nomination would be bad for the image of Nairn.

But surprisingly few people have spotted that the nomination provides an opportunity to focus the spotlight on local planning, design and architecture, and to encourage those responsible to deliver new buildings of which the town can be proud.

Councillor and Convener Sandy Park claimed, “…the residents of Nairn are too proud to care about it [the carbuncle nomination]”.

It is indeed all about pride.  It is precisely because Nairn residents are proud of their town that they DO care what it looks like.

How can Nairn take advantage of the carbuncle nomination to get better development and design? Add your comments below!

To no-one’s great surprise, the Highland Council has put the land and buildings it owns in the town centre up for sale.  But the idea of selling the plots, buildings and car parks off separately has rightly caused concern.   Some serious questions remain to be answered:

• Despite all the assurances given to NICE back in spring, will the town end up with piecemeal, unconnected development?
• Will any developer buy land just to create an amenity space which offers no profit?
•  Will there be a reduction or removal of town centre parking spaces?  The choice of words by Tim Stott of the Council quoted in the press was very revealing:  “no significant net loss of parking”.  How many lost spaces would be “significant”?
• Are the old but historic and sound Social Work Department buildings bound to be bulldozed?  It was noticeable how our Councillors wriggled and equivocated when challenged about this at the Ward Forum.

NICE was formed to campaign for a well-planned, attractive and sensible regeneration of the town centre.  Do we need to go in to battle again?  If you think so, say so!

Rosemary Young’s one-woman campaign succeeded this summer where several years of fine words and assurances from our elected Councillors had failed.  At last the paintbrushes came out and the Regal got a quick coat of whitewash.

So far so good.  But then up went the “For Sale” signs on both the cinema and the abandoned filling station.  Any chance of agreeing a joint redevelopment plan, or a deal, with the Council?  It seems the Co-op wasn’t inclined to co-operate.  One more missed opportunity to do some joined-up planning?

What do you suggest the Co-op, or a buyer of the sites, should do with the Regal and the filling station?  Let us know what you think.

Among the responses to the Council’s “Call for Sites” to be allocated for development under the new Inner Moray Firth plan, the Nairnshire Telegraph and others spotted that the Farmers’ Showfield had been put forward for redevelopment.

Those with long memories will remember the strength of local feeling when this green space was previously earmarked for building.  NICE, which sympathises with the Farming Society’s needs, has already made some contribution to the debate, at  http://www.nicenairn.org.uk/the-farmers-showfield/

The Showfield was important to the residents of Nairn.  Does it still matter?  Does anyone care if it is sold off for development?   Let us have your comments.