Strategy Paper for River Nairn and Harbour

Following the meeting in the sailing club and other discussions, the importance to Nairnshire of its river, the harbour and beaches is more fully understood and is in need of thoughtful actions.

If we consider the area as a T with the river as the leg and the beaches as the cross we can start to understand how closely they are inter twinned. The beaches are supporting the Parkdean Caravan site, the 2 golf courses with walks to Culbin forest to the east and Fort George to the west. All are essential components of our tourist industry. It is also some of the best wetland /bird watching areas in Britain if not in all Europe

If we start with the River Nairn, it is virtually unspoiled by development on its banks. The trees and flood plain are like a Canadian wilderness. We must protect this wonderful ecology and quietness.

The gravel extraction for McDermott’s and some of the river stone placements have not helped.

Action points

No more gravel extraction from river bed.

Careful thought and restrictions on more pool engineering with SNH and SEPA input as well as Fisheries Board.

Walking path to Firhall with new Firhall Bridge.

Flood risk alleviation by extracting gravel at mouth of river /harbour basin

No extra pollution/storm water to be directed into River Nairn from future developments.

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Harbour

Massive tourist and leisure potential.

Sailing club, Kayak club both see great benefits from development of harbour area.

Harbour in urgent need of repair /rebuild.

If nothing is done it will disappear.

Action points

New harbour design with deep water outer harbour to allow for bigger marina/touring Scandinavian / German boats.

Extended east harbour wall to stop sand build up

Dredging of gravel sand at river’s mouth

Facility for sailing club/kayak club in new harbour design

Tourist attraction/restaurant/bar

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Flooding of Fishertown

Action points

Urgent action is needed to protect Fishertown conservation site from River and sea flooding

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Sewage

Action points

Sewage flooding in Fishertown /urgent action required

Sewage work malfunction/risk of bacterial pollution to bathing water quality

Smell risk to both caravan site and Nairn Dunbar golf club

New pipes to take sewage to sewage works

Other suggestions

Maggot boating pond/Kayak /sailing beginner’s training

Links potential/parking/transport to and from town centre

Putting green/children’s play area

Route from town centre to harbour along links and back up through Viewfield to town centre

Actions

HIE/Coastal/Fishing /Harbour money to buy capacity to get this done.

Professional engineering and architect input.

Dr Alastair L Noble

Chairman NICE

Partnership – the Way Forward

We recently announced our Annual General Meeting to be held on the 29th Oct, 7.30pm in the Community & Arts Centre. There are some key issues on the agenda and we encourage as many of our 1000+ members as possible to attend. Around a year ago we were delighted that Highland Council declared their intention to work in partnership with us in the development of the Old Social Work Building. A valuation was sought and a price for its purchase agreed. However, our plans to work with an anchor tenant fell through at the last minute. We were therefore unable to submit our offer to buy within the alloted timetable. An extension to that timetable was refused and as a result we have struggled to fully understand what Highland Council meant by partnership working.

In all our discussion around town centre development with Highland Council and other town centre stakeholders, especially during the specially convened Charrette, there was general agreement on the way forward. Through the NICE survey many local residents also fed their ideas into the debate. The big issue to be faced – as it always has-  is how to convert these ideas into practical outcomes. We have yet to find a mechanism for working in partnership and it is increasingly clear that doing so is complex. We now recognise that whatever Highland Council agree, it is important that our local elected representatives also support partnership working.

We believe that the only way to make progress on the OSWB and town centre development in general is to sit round the table with our four local councillors and draw up an agreed agenda. This we have now agreed to do before the AGM. As a Community Development Trust we can bring certain things to the table that the local authority cannot so it makes perfect sense to work together. We look forward to our meeting and hope we’ll be able to define a use for the OSWB that will see it used for the benefit of the community.

NICE Annual General Meeting 2014

NAIRN IMPROVEMENT COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the third ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the above company will be held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 29th October 2014 at the Nairn Community & Arts Centre for the purpose of the following business:

1 Welcome & Introduction
2 Apologies for Absence
3 Secretary’s Report
4 Chairman’s Report
5 Consideration of Accounts for year ended 30 November 2013
6 Election of Directors (under the Company’s Articles Campbell Mair, Graham Kerr & Matthew Hilton will be retiring and may offer themselves for re-election)
7 RESOLUTION to add postcodes IV2 7PJ and IV2 7SQ to Appendix 1 of the Company’s Articles.
8 Proposal to work with Nairn Citizen’s Advice Bureau for joint use of the Old Social Work Building.
9 Proposal to establish a subsidiary company to deliver the Sandown Park & Wetlands Project.
10 Discussion of “Developing a Partnership Approach” with Highland Council in relation to the recent Charrette for the Town Centre.
11 Any Other Business

Agenda items 8 – 10 are particularly important, and Members are encouraged to appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf if they are unable to attend in person. The appointment of a proxy should be made using this form – AGM PROXY2014 and be received by the Company Secretary by 7.30 pm on 27th October 2014.

A copy of the company’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30th November 2013 are available here

DATED this 13th day of October 2014.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
Michael Barnett
Secretary
Company No: SC388110
Registered Office: Drumdelnies, by Nairn, IV12 5NT
mbarnett@macline.co.uk