Deveron vs Cawdor
Interesting reporting on two different stories, both concerning developments in Nairnshire – one featuring Deveron’s failure to have the Sandown application accepted, the other being Lord Cawdor’s plans to expand the village of Cawdor itself.
Here’s the first from the Inverness Courier:
“We will always feel positive about this development and it is with deep regret that we will not see it through to completion,” [Gordon Ramsay, managing director of Deveron Highland] said, adding extensive community consultation had taken place over the last 18 months. “We will now consider our options, but at this stage it is unclear as to how best we can continue to engage with Highland Council.”
Extensive community consultation? Surely he doesn’t mean the plans that were posted to residents, trying to sell the advantages of the development? Or the meetings at the Newton Hotel? That wasn’t consultation – that was talking at us.
Also, as previously raised, it’s not Highland Council they should be so focused on engaging, as much as residents of Nairn themselves – Deveron should already have a clear idea of which groups they need to especially pay attention to, address, and engage in dialogue with.
Sure, no developer can win everybody over – it’s clear that there is a streak of people in Nairn who are against any development whatsoever, trying to deny that modern society progresses – but to retain local services Nairn has to look beyond being a retirement village and move towards being a modern tourist town.
However, it was great to see Brian Stewart – credited with representing the Nairn Resident’s Concern Group, but is also a steering force behind Visit Nairn beside Iain Fairweather – echo Community Council Chairman John MacKie’s comments about being pro-development, where resident concerns are addressed:
Meanwhile, campaigners against the scheme celebrated the outcome this week. Brian Stewart, of the Nairn Resident’s Concern Group, said the group was not against development.
“If the developer does think again then we hope they will pay more attention and be more responsive to the local residents,” he said. “We also hope they will think more about the impact the development will have on Nairn as a town, which is something we think Deveron failed adequately to do.”
Contrast developments between Cawdor and Nairn with Lord Cawdor’s reported comments:
Speaking ahead of the launch of the master plan, Lord Cawdor said: “The challenge is to create a template that allows the village to grow at whatever rate is appropriate for the area, but in doing so, also consolidates and supports the existing settlement.
“Equally important is development that is in keeping with Cawdor’s distinctive heritage.”
Cawdor Estates has put together a specialist team to ensure that the masterplan “evolves sensitively and with the involvement of the local community”.
Okay, so the first point is that this is Lord Cawdor’s view only, and there’s no reason to presume they will be universally supported within Cawdor village itself.
However, key elements are there – it’s not a “masterplan” but a “draft masterplan”, subject to change, as further reported here:
“It is important to stress at this stage that the plan is not complete. We want local people to see the work undertaken since the end of last year and to be involved in the plan’s evolution”.
The draft master plan will be displayed and comments will be invited at drop-in sessions at the former primary school at Cawdor next week.
We see a suggestion that the plans can be positively influenced by public discussion – something that did not come up with the Sandown development.
In addition, Lord Cawdor suggests the new development is intended to work within a clear framework for the village, through real consideration of the various issues it would need to address.
Perhaps the latest developments for Cawdor will suck big time – it would be unwise to pass judgement on the possible success or benefits (or lack of) without knowing more.
But Lord Cawdor is making the right noises in terms of public engagement – a process that involves inviting the people to have a voice for change in their interests.
I join Brian Stewart and John MacKie in being in favour of seeing Nairn developed further – but in a manner that properly takes Nairn’s needs and interests taken into account.
The whole Inverness to Nairn region is set for growth: growth that could potentially benefit Nairn greatly by bringing in new services to the town, and also put a stop – even reverse – the rot that has being developing through centralisation of public resources away from Nairn to Inverness.
Nairn already has so much to offer, but so much of its potential is being underplayed.
We don’t need fields of concreted to make Nairn successful, but through a process of intelligent and considered growth, in co-ordination with the town’s existing and developing interests, we could yet see a town called Nairn stand out proud in the Scottish Highlands, and no longer be so easily intimated by its largest neighbour.
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