Year 2, Week 36
Community councils, the bypass, butterflies, community fund ...
Community Councils
Three of the five community councils in the ward failed to re-form in the autumn and so this Monday, 15th January, we’re having another attempt with nominations opening for community councillors for Cawdor & West Nairnshire, East Nairnshire, and Nairn West & Suburban.
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 if you live in the right area.
Nairn Bypass
At First Minister’s Questions this week Humza Yousaf was asked about the A96 dualling and the Nairn bypass and he said:
Let me absolutely assure members that preparation work continue at pace on the Inverness to Nairn section, including the Nairn bypass, and I can advise the chamber that I expect that orders for the scheme will be made in the first quarter of 2024, with a view to completing the necessary statutory process.
I am, like everyone I think, pretty cynical about when we will get the bypass but it looks as if things are still moving forward, even if it seems to be at a glacial pace.
The Minister of Transport is having a meeting with MSPs representing the A96 corridor on 25th January to provide a more detailed update on the scheme so I’m hoping to have some more news to report in a couple of weeks.
Butterfly Conservation
Butterfly Conservation Scotland were awarded a grant of £16,115 this week to help saving threatened sand dune lepidoptera by removing scrub and spreading native grassland and wild flower seeds at various locations along the sand dunes east of Nairn.
This money came from the 2023/24 Highland Nature Restoration Fund. You can read more about this and other awards made and also how to apply for funding yourself for your project here.
Community Fund
Talking of funding the National Lottery’s Community Fund is a fantastic opportunity to support local groups and individuals to fund a project within the community. Projects with broad community benefit will now be able to apply for funding between £300 and £20,000 to support their projects for up to two years – a change from the previous £10,000 over 12 months. More details here.
Planning applications
The following new applications were logged since I last posted:
23/05623/FUL - The Brackla Hotel, 50 Harbour Street, Nairn, IV12 4NU - Installation of replacement windows and doors, kitchen extraction ducting
23/05737/MSC - Land 100M North Of Spidean, Ardclach, Nairn - Erection of house and outbuilding
23/05821/PNO - Land 640M NE Of The Mount, Glenferness - Upgrade forestry access track and form maintenance bay
23/05841/FUL - 4 Darroch Place, Nairn, IV12 4TA - Alterations and extension
23/05858/FUL - Cawdor Bowling Club, Cawdor - Demolition of pavilion, erection of pavilion
To find details search on the reference number on the planning portal where you can also find details on how to comment.