Iain Fairweather leads charge for change
I wasn’t able to attend last night’s Ward Forum, but it sounds like Iain Fairweather has delivered a rallying call for change in Nairn, leading the charge for change.
The Gurn has reckoned for some time that a groundswell is building against the Highland Council in Nairn. Tonight that discomfort that the population feels with our elected body surfaced at the meeting of the Nairn Partnership in the Courthourse when Iain Fairweather made a presentation in response to criticism/invitation of Highland Council Convener Sandy Park.
Iain’s presentation can be found here.
Some of the needs for Nairn are blindinglying obvious, and I posted something previously on my own perceptions: A New Local Plan for Nairn. The purpose being that there are obvious issues at present, and these need discussing, not only within the walls of the Highland Council, but also with the people of Nairn.
Simply put, Nairn has issues, and its great to see Iain push on this because of his authoritative voice in terms of trade and tourism associations.
The key objection to development, of course, is cost – how much money needs to be spent?
But the counter-argument is that the primary need is to use existing council powers intelligently – a need for a planning overivew, use of existing council powers, and application to cash resources available outside of the Highland Council.
I’m sure when it all comes down to it, there will be disagreements on individual details of any development plan – but the most important thing is that there will be a general consensus for change, general agreement on what needs changing, and the benefit of dialogue that involves the public for enacting such change.
Nairn has already set out aims for development of tourism and business to allow Nairn to be an independent centre in its own right according to the existing Local Plan.
What we have failed to see so far is any of this being properly developed.
Even worse, Nairn has been lacking in a “grand plan” within which to co-ordinate this.
The fact that Iain has presented on the issue means the bar has now been raised – rather than the oft-ignored proletariat protesting with a weak voice, bringing business stakeholders into a call for change means that our voice is becoming louder, and much harder to dismiss.
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