Angry reaction to re-routing of parade of massed pipe bands for the Nairn Highland Games due to the cost of marshalling the event 300 yards along the A96

Some of the area’s residents have reacted angrily to news that this year’s parade of massed pipe bands for the Nairn Highland Games is likely to be re-routed due to the cost of marshalling the event 300 yards along the A96.

The games committee learned recently that it would have to put in place a temporary traffic roads order (TTRO) and engage a private company to supervise the parade from Viewfield along King Street – which is part of the A96 – to St Ninian Road before it goes onwards to the links. It is understood this would be for safety reasons.

The Courier revealed last week that games secretary Stuart Farrell reported to a committee meeting that he had sought associated costings from a traffic management company and the figure quoted was £2000. It would face further expense for permits from Highland Council and BEAR Scotland.

It is the first time the committee has been told that they have to obtain a TTRO and engage a traffic management company for the march.

Games convener Sandra Ross said: “BEAR Scotland are in charge of trunk road closures and we have been informed that the police will not be marshalling the parade.

“We therefore have to hire a traffic management team and we were quoted £2000 for the 15-minute closure on the march from Viewfield to the games and on the return.

“Our committee is run by a team of dedicated volunteers. We are doing this for the community.

“It’s a great boost to the economy of Nairn. If the government wants to do something about traffic in Nairn they can get the Nairn bypass sorted because if the trunk road didn’t run through the middle of the town, we wouldn’t have this problem.

“The people of this town have had to put up with gridlocked traffic on this stretch of road for years and we are now being charged for an event that has gone on for 15 years at no cost.

“I am retiring after 35 years on the games committee and I don’t want this left as a legacy for the committee in years to come. They work extremely hard securing sponsorship to ensure the continuation of the games which is the highlight of the summer in Nairn.

“We are continually faced with barriers being put in our way and this is just another one which will detract from the lead up to the opening of the games.

“We are looking at a different route through Viewfield to Seafield Street and Marine Road to the links. The bands would leave Viewfield Park and muster in Viewfield Street.

“But there has been a very strong reaction from the local public who are very angry at this change and rightly so.

“The main road is much more visible. But it is outwith our control.”

On social media some members of the public have suggested proceeding with the march anyway in protest or launching a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs.

But Mrs Ross said there’s no way they would proceed without the full permissions in place.

“Post-Covid has presented us with lots of challenges and this is another hurdle we have to overcome,” she said.

“Some people have suggested crowdfunding to meet the cost but we are not going down that road. It would then be a burden for years to come and there is a strong point of principle here. We are not going to be pressured into paying £2000.”