£27k funding boost to create Local Place Plan for Nairn gets green light
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A Nairn steering group has secured a £27,000 funding boost to develop a Local Place Plan for Nairn.
Members if Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE), community councils, Nairn BID and other local groups came together earlier this year with the goal to engage the community in creating a proposal on future development in the town and the surrounding area.
After attending several public events this summer – including the Nairn Show and the Nairn Games – and launching a preliminary public survey, the group announced its request for a grant from the Community Regeneration Funding has been approved.
NICE secretary Mandy Lawson said: "We are all delighted on the Local Place Plan Steering Group and we are looking forwarded to working together with this community to help Nairnshire thrive.
"The survey is just the opener for a nine-month public conversation to develop a community-led Local Place Plan.
"A programme of public engagement events will now happen across Nairnshire once we get this five months of funding in October, which will last us until early spring, as we define and refine local priorities for action based on what local people have said they want for this place."
Once adopted, local place plans have to be recognised by the local authority and included in the Local Development Plan.
More information on the local place plan, the steering group and its activities is available at nicenairn.org.uk/lpp.
An information leaflet and questionnaire was sent to 6500 houses in the Greater Nairnshire area and NICE chair, Alasdair Noble, said they hope for at least 2000 to be completed and sent back to the group.
He said: "We would encourage as many as possible to return the questionnaire preferably on line or in hard copy.
"The widest possible range of local input will strengthen the best outcome. Everybody in each house can fill in a separate questionnaire, either on line or by photocopying the hard copy."
"We will also be organising a whole series of drop in sessions throughout the Autumn.
"The first is on October 3 at the Community Centre."
He also said that the funding is an important boost to add specific position to what has been an all-voluntary effort so far.
The survey will run until September 22.
Anyone wishing to take part can do so online or collecting the forms from Nairn Community and Arts Centre, Nairn Library, Tradespark Shop and Post Office and Cawdor Post Office – where completed forms can be returned.
