Not More Flats Please!

Over the past few weeks representatives of all 3 Community Councils, various local bodies and members of the Nairn community have met to try to bring forward alternative ideas for Town Centre Development. We have been greatly heartened by the response and a number of good ideas have been submitted by local people. Central to all those ideas is a more attractive and vibrant town centre that welcomes resident and visitor alike. Flats simply will not deliver what Nairn town centre really needs and if we lose this opportunity we’ll be stuck with it for at least two generations. This is Nairn’s last chance to do something better.

That’s why we have organised a public meeting and we’d be delighted if you’d come, not just to hear about the ideas that have been suggested, but to bring your own. One issue we must bear in mind is that the old Community Centre has a value and Highland Council has said that whatever happens on the site, it has to be “realistic and affordable”. They need to realise the value of the site as a first priority. In these difficult economic times there are no blank cheques and they will not be funding the development of the site no matter how inventive. Our challenge, as a community, is to come up with a plan that will enhance the Town Centre and outline a workable mechanism for delivering it. That’s almost harder.

But we believe that with creative imagination it is not an impossible task. There have been some great ideas but they are a long way from decisions and much more consultation is needed. Indeed the final outcome may end up being very different to the way we currently perceive things. Ideas evolve as we engage with each other to find the best solutions. Driven by a similar passion, other community groups have transformed their communities. We can do the same. By working together, the people of Nairn can deliver a better solution for the Town Centre than either of those currently on the table – if indeed they choose to do so.

Do join us on Monday 13th, 7.00pm. at the Community Centre

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