Year 2, Week 20
Montgomerie Drive, community council elections, the Capital Programme, A939 bridge, school closures, Balnespick Wind Farm, Wheels of Nairn ...
Montgomerie Drive estate
First, an apology. I said last week that all the roads on this estate were now adopted highways so the responsibility of Highland Council. This turns out not to be entirely true. Burnside remains unadopted.
I will be chasing progress on this in the coming week.
Community Council elections
Have you ever thought of standing for your community council? If so then now’s the time as we have to elect new councillors this autumn for all our community councils and nominations close at noon on Tuesday, 3rd October. I’ve written here before at some length about being elected for a community council so I won’t repeat that now but I hope that you do consider standing.
Capital Programme
Just over a week ago now council agreed the Capital Programme which means that Nairn Academy goes ahead, as does Tornagrain Primary School, but some other new schools in the programme are delayed until the council can find funding. This includes Park Primary at Invergordon and St Clement’s at Dingwall and you may have seen social media posts and some misleading press stories about this. If you have then can I urge to also read this post on Facebook (you don’t need an account) from one of my fellow councillors where she lays out the true story.
A939 still closed at Dava
As I mentioned last week the A939 Grantown road is currently closed after a bridge strike on the bridge over Dorback Burn at Dava near the junction with the A940 from Forres which has resulted in serious damage to the stone parapet. At the time I said that it would at least be closed over that weekend.
I’ve been told since that the news isn’t good and the current estimate is that the road will be closed at that location for six to eight weeks.
School closures
UNISON have indicated their intention to take strike action in schools on Tuesday to Thursday this week. This action is part of a national dispute regarding pay. The action involves all categories of school-based non-teaching staff including Pupil Support Assistants, Early Years staff, Clerical and Admin staff, Catering, Cleaning and Facilities Management staff. Currently it is expected that 27 schools will remain open but many will close. Parents should be being informed via the usual channels.
Balnespick Wind Farm
Having recently objected to a wind farm at Lethen we now have another application in the pipeline from the same developer, Fred Olsen Renewables. This is at Balnespick 5.6km east of Tomatin and 6.6km north-west of Carrbridge so south of the existing Tom nan Clach wind farm and in the very far south of our ward.
If this effects you then the developer is holding public events from 11am to 7:30pm on:
3rd October at The Auditorium, The Strathdearn, Tomatin, IV13 7YN
4th October at Carrbridge Village Hall, Main Street, Carrbridge, PH23 3AA
They also have a web site www.balnespickwindfarm.co.uk where you can find more information.
Wheels of Nairn
In closing can I just mention this event which was held by Nairn BID on The Links in Nairn on Saturday.
There were a lot of classic cars on show (although I’m showing my age as I remember pretty much all of them when they were routinely seen on the roads!) and it was buzzing when I went along in the afternoon with masses of people wandering around.
So well done Nairn BID for organising what is clearly going to be an annual event for the town.