Sainsburys seeks support for Nairn supermarket
According to the Gurn, Pettifer Estates are pushing ahead with plans to develop a Sainsburys on the town borders, and are seeking local supporters to write to the Scottish Government about the matter:
Mr Iain McLeod,
Planning Decisions,
Scottish Government
Area 2J,
Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
I’ve just written and sent one off, because I really believe in the future and development of Nairn – and that resisting change just isn’t the way to go.
A big problem, it appears, is that faith for improved supermarket facilities within the planning department had been squarely placed on Somerfield.
However, Somerfield has now been bought by the Co-op, and any investment is unlikely in the first few years at least while the Co-op assimilate Somerfield. Pettifer even suggests the town’s Somerfield is even on a disposal list – whether this is true or not, it is guaranteed that Nairn is not going to see the existing Somerfield expanded any time soon.
So the need for a proper supermarket has to come from somewhere – which makes supporting the Sainsburys move all the more important.
What I find astonishing are the objections within Nairn itself – not least on fears that a large out of town supermarket will kill the High Street.
Let’s be clear – Nairn high street at present does not offer the shopping experience the people of Nairn need – especially those of us with growing families.
Additionally, out of town supermarkets do not kill high streets – they force them to adapt. It is failure to adapt that kills high streets, and it takes a clear lack of imagination to adapt.
Unfortunately, it seems some of the business owners on the high street think entirely in that matter.
Just when the push came to have the high street pedestrianised – and provide a better, safe, shopping – rather than support it, there were objections about stopping cars cutting through it. From at least one of the business owners there.
There are also issues with the building fronts deteriorating, and some of the shops don’t even take credit cards.
In short, the high street is a tired old monopoly that seeks to provide as minimal shopping benefits as possible, and expect other people to support it.
The idea of a Sainsburys frightens them because some will have to get off their backsides and adapt their businesses to providing a better shopping experience.
Forget those threatening closure of shops – I’m a businessman, happy to look for business investment opportunities, and frontage on Nairn high street is already on my radar. I’m sure there are others to.
Overall, change happens to every town, and Nairn is no exception. Shopping development on the outskirts is bound to help bring Nairn kicking into the 21st century.
The fact that Nairn has so many selling points to tourists and residents alike shouldn’t ever mean the high street becomes deserted – on the contrary – it’ll just need to change with the times.
If that means pedestrianisation, a lick of point, and the ability to take credit cards – then so be it.
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