Building a Nairnshire community portal

December 7, 2009 · Filed Under Nairn 

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UPDATE: The Nairnshire community forums are now open! If you were a member of the Cinema of Dreams community, you can login with your original forum details as both have now been merged! http://www.nairnshire.co.uk/community/

One of the projects I’m seriously behind on at present is a Nairnshire community portal I’ve had at various stages of planning and development through this year, based at Nairnshire.co.uk.

I bought the domain name at the start of the year for a somewhat premium price, and hade hoped I could get something online by the summer, but it remains stuck in the middle of the development process.

Unfortunately, running a business through the biggest recession for 80 years is not fun – income is down 40%, costs are up 30%, so I’ve had to ensure I focus on commercial projects rather than personal interest ones.

However, I’m now trying to get more properly organised with the portal so I can have something functional online early next year.

The aims are as follows:

1. Tourism – Hook up with the Visit Nairn tourism group and other related bodies to provide promotional literature on the website for tourists on the website
2. Internet access – Provide an online portal and discussion area for locals as well as tourists, to help build up Nairn’s profile online,
3. Community fund – Set up advertising on the website, and use the income to fund small community projects across Nairnshire

I’m especially keen to push on the last point, and despite the tough economic climate, would be willing to put aside additional business money on top of any revenues from Nairnshire.co.uk into organising and funding local projects where possible.

The Highland Council seems to spend lengthy periods just having meetings about action, and sometimes the decision making requires expensive consultation. The HC are also in the process of withdrawing services in the first place – so I figure there should be of room for little improvements to be made to Nairn and the surrounding villages using a private community fund.

For example, in the recent reports on Dutch Elm Disease killing trees at Viewfield, a community council asked where money would come from to pay for replacement trees, and the intial reaction was one of uncertainty according to the Nairnshire Telegraph.

This is where private intervention could help ensure it is done quickly and cost effectively, without having to dip into community budgets or money reserved for local services.

Another thought is the small children’s play park at the back of Mill Road – there’s nowhere for the grown-ups to sit while the children are playing, so at least a bench might be a good idea. Possibly even expand the play facilities if funds allow.

Then the possibility of organising volunteers to clear litter from the beaches and dog poo from the access paths.

None of these are big ideas, but just may help make small but appreciated improvements on quality of life issues, without waiting for public bodies to finally act.

And these are just ideas that come immediately to mind. I’m sure once the project is launched there will be other suggestions for Nairn, as well as Cawdor, Croy, and other surrounding villages.

Even if such a community fund isn’t able to pay for big things, the hope is that if it’s able to do little things that help locals and visitors, it’s still something positive for Nairnshire.

In the meantime, while I’m still incredibly busy, I’m trying to get Nairnshire.co.uk completed and online as soon as possible, so the whole project can finally start to come to life.

Comments

2 Responses to “Building a Nairnshire community portal”

  1. jayteescot on December 7th, 2009 7:19 pm

    What a good idea, well done Brian ! I’m sure there are lots of people in Nairnshire who will wish you all the best with the website. I think the likes of Iain Fairweather (visitnairn) might be interested in such a venture. Much can be done in the community by individuals and collectively.
    Much as I resent it, I have occasionally picked up other peoples dog poo that has been on the paths. I have also cleaned litter from the river and harbour basin on a semi regular basis, and pick up bottles which are likely to be smashed on footpaths etc. A bit of civic pride would not go amiss in Nairn. When the time comes for the sniping and girnin for your efforts, just ignore these critics and gather like minded people around you. Regional government does not always know best whats good for our local community. You can count on an annual donation from me when you get up and running.

  2. Brian Turner on December 7th, 2009 7:28 pm

    Thanks for the well wishes and not a problem – I know Iain Fairweather has plans to really push the tourism element via hotel promotion and similar, so I plan to avoid overlapping that directly, and instead provide a lot of background information.

    No need for donations either – I plan to see everything paid for via advertising – get commercial markets to directly provide funding to benefit Narinshire. :)

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