Week 16
Bin strikes, the new Academy, and plans for tourism infrastructure
Refuse collection strike
Different unions have come out on slightly different days so here in Nairn we had of a bit of a late start on the refuse collection strikes which are affecting local authorities across Scotland. Friday was the first day that bins were not collected and the re-cycling centre was closed, as it was on Saturday.
I believe that bins will not be collected on Monday but the advice from the Council is to put your bins out of the day of collection, but if they’re not emptied that day then they won’t be for a fortnight so don’t leave them out.
Highland Council are updating this page each day as soon as they’re sure what’s happening where that day.
If the strike is still continuing then it looks like they next won’t be collected from Wednesday, 7th September to Saturday, 10th September inclusive. This means that some of us will not see a bin collection (blue in the case of our house) for six weeks.
The pay negotiations are being handled nationally by COSLA which is the local government umbrella organisation. SNP members originally proposed a 5% pay rise but Tory and Labour councillors insisted on a 3.5% offer which was rejected. As was that 5% later.
What the unions are calling for is a flat rate pay rise of £1,925 - so that would represent a pay rise in the order of 10% for the lowest paid full time employees and about 3% for those on £60,000. I think a flat rate rise is a sensible option in these times of rampant inflation where those at the lowest end of the pay scale are struggling to pay their energy bills and still eat, but it’s not my decision.
Nairn Academy
On Thursday evening I attended a meeting of the new Academy steering group for the first time and it was fascinating to see how their project plans are now coalescing around a design which both fits well with the site but also provides an exciting new building while hitting the energy net-zero target.
I have also been liaising with local residents this week about what the construction will mean for them and, in particular, the potential benefits to the residents of Duncan Drive who may finally see some relief from their flooding problems.
Two public events are planned to let everyone see what’s now planned. Both will take place on Tuesday, 6th September. The first, starting at 4:30pm, is at the academy. The second, starting at 6:30pm will be online. The Council are meant to be writing to all local residents about this but I hope to have more details, especially of the online event, in time for next week’s blog post.
Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan
An ambitious Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan was approved by the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee this week. The plan identifies twenty two projects that the Highland Council and its partners plan to take forward over the next 2-5 years as priorities.
None of these are in Nairn which has lead to some negative comment on social media so here’s some thoughts.
I’m not on the Economy and Infrastructure Committee and this plan was developed before my time on the Council, so I’ve had very little involvement in it, but it was discussed by previous ward councillors and Nairn BID was also consulted.
The sites which are to be a priority for tourism infrastructure do not include any in Nairn & Cawdor. If you’ve been elsewhere in Highland in the last couple of years you’ll know why: if you think we’ve seen a rise in tourism it’s nothing compared to some areas, especially on the west coast.
Nairn is not ignored however. The plan also highlights other potential projects across the rest of Highland that have been suggested to the Council and may go forward though the local leadership of the Area Committees. The ones for Nairn are listed below:
Car park improvements
Hilton of Delnies: There is no formal car park at this site and with the increasing popularity of this location, works to create new or formal parking are necessary.
Nairn: The lack of a central drop-off/pick-up point for coaches in the town has been flagged up during the consultation.
One other site has been identified as “sometimes at capacity” and may justify being investigated as a future project:
Cumming St/Nairn Links
EV charging points
The community have expressed in the consultation that they would be interested in EV charging facilities at the Links.
Motorhome facilities
Motorhome site: The Nairn BID and community would like to provide an aire-style facility for motorhomes and have identified the Maggot as potential site for this.
Motor home waste disposal point: This is also something that the BID and the community would like to offer, and they have identified the Maggot or potential the old toilet block at Harbour Street for this.
Public toilet refurbishments
Nairn West Beach: This location has been identified by Amenity Services as requiring a refurbishment.
Links: There is a local project around the Links that would include a toilet refurbish-ment and the provision outdoor showers.
These are all things that your ward councillors will be, and in some cases already are, be discussing for future action.