Week 41
Cawdor & WNCC, other meetings, 20mph speed limits, planning applications, surgery, and cost of living
Cawdor and West Nairnshire Community Council
I was present at a well attended meeting of the council on Monday night. Issues discussed included dog fouling posters for Piperhill/Culcharry Woods, plans for resurfacing Smiddy Brae, traffic speed measurement on the B9090 through Cawdor, and Ardersier Port.
The meeting also discussed plans for an event in Cawdor on 6th May, probably a fete or street party, to celebrate King Charles’ coronation.
I also came away with a number of issues to investigate on behalf of residents.
Other meetings on Monday night
Your ward councillors were spread rather thin on the ground that night as while this was going on there was also a meeting of the Nairn Academy Steering Group and of the Queenspark Residents’ Group, both of which we also attended.
I understand that the latest plans for the Academy were presented and discussed at the former. I’ve already seen these and they look very promising. Now we just need confirmation from the Scottish Government of the LEIP funding which will let this go ahead.
The latter, among other things, discussed the ongoing issues with rats and antisocial behaviour.
20mph speed limits
I’ve talked before about plans to roll out 20mph speed limits in urban areas across the Highland Council area and this week we had a briefing on progress. The good news is that Nairn, Piperhill, and Auldearn are proposed to have all 30mph roads reduced the 20mph. The bad news is that Cawdor is not included in the plan at the moment. Both Cllr Barbara Jarvie and I expressed our unhappiness about this given the problems of speeding on the B9090.
Transport Scotland are still deciding whether to do this for the A96 through Nairn but are apparently quite keen on the idea. How this would work with the 40mph zones at each end I’m not yet clear but I’m hopeful those might drop to 30mph, which should make people at the west end of Nairn who have complained about speeding there happier.
Commenting on planning applications
An article in this week’s Inverness Courier - Nairnshire Edition claimed that residents were unable to comment on a planning application as the only way to do so was online. This is simply not true. As the council’s web site makes clear comments can also be submitted in writing and should be posted to: ePlanning, eProcessing Centre, The Highland Council, Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, IV3 5NX
MSP/Councillor surgery
As promised Emma Roddick, your regional MSP, and I held a joint surgery at the community centre on Wednesday afternoon which gave us a chance to catch up and discuss both local and national issues, including that LEIP funding.
Emma also visited The Highland Weigh's zero-waste refill shop in Nairn while she was in town, as she reported on Facebook.
Cost of Living Support Community Led Initiatives Fund
I’ve previously encouraged groups in the ward to apply for money from this fund, which is now pretty much exhausted. In a report to this week’s Communities and Place Committee it seems that three projects got funding in Nairnshire, with a total of £4,660 being given as follows:
Nairn United Reform Church - Nairn URC warm bank - £3,260
Nairnshire Rotary Club of Nairn - Providing Food for Families in Need - £1,000
Nairnshire Highland Yoga Collective - A Warm space with a warm heart - £400
It’s great that these projects did get funding and well done to them for making it happen but regrettable that some other great projects weren’t lucky enough to get funding too. I’m hoping some will still be able to go ahead via other funding routes.