Cars invading Nairn Links grass while children lose out on green space to play on
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CONCERNS are growing that children are losing areas of green space to play on due to motorists.
Nairn’s popularity among visitors – especially during warmer periods – has seen vehicles fill up the Links car park, prompting motorists to start leaving their cars on grass nearby and towards the bandstand.
Residents in Links Place are unhappy about the loss of a football pitch in front of their homes and argue it is depriving children of space.
And Nairn County Cricket Club fear they could have to cancel matches if cars are left unattended on the cricket pitch.
Highland Council’s principal traffic officer Shane Manning has been conducting a straw poll on social media to gauge public opinion, suggesting the football pitch would be preferable for parking overspill.
But he said such a decision would be all down to public consultation.
Recently, the council introduced a controversial voluntary parking charge scheme at the Links with profits going to the town’s Common Good Fund to improve infrastructure at the seafront.
As temperatures soared during last month’s heatwave, the car park hit capacity on several occasions, with contributing factors also being the easing of Covid-19-related restrictions and the immensely popular new splashpad.
Local residents say they had never seen such parking chaos in the area.
“It’s not just the Links. All around the Fishertown householders are unable to get parked outside their homes,” said James Walker, of Links Place.
“We have never seen anything like this before and we don’t really have the answers.
“But the suggestion to use the football pitch is ridiculous. I see kids every weekend having to shift the goals as drivers come onto the grass and park on the pitch.
“There are also serious problems with people not wanting to pay the charges parking in the narrow
streets around the Links and the council’s bin lorries have problems manoeuvring because of congestion.”
Mr Walker’s wife Anna said: “People want to enjoy themselves, but I think the suggestion traffic is encouraged to move to the grass on the other side of the car park is the answer. Goodness knows what will happen when the showies arrive in August [9-22 at the Links].
“Residents here are used to the showies visiting every year. It’s a tradition in Nairn, and as residents we don’t have a problem with that. It’s something for everyone to look forward to, but you wonder where the cars will go when they arrive.”
Elka Ambrose said her husband provided the goals with nets for the children.
“We have lived here 18 years, and one of the reasons we moved here was to enjoy the open space in front of our house,” she said.
“Our children played here every day. It shouldn’t be allowed to become a car park.”
Evelyn Main, another Links Place resident, said they all understand why the Links is so popular and want people to come and enjoy themselves.
“Fortunately, in wet weather when serious damage could be caused to the grass there’s no overspill. There’s also added pollution from the vehicles, and residents often have to park on the grass themselves because the streets are choked with cars.”
Nairn County Cricket Club secretary Mark Elvines said: “We don’t own the ground and we are protecting the wicket.
“Our outfield where the cars are parking isn’t pristine and we are quite happy for them to use the space. But what happens if we arrive on a match day or evening practice and find cars unattended. We may have to cancel.”
Nairn councillor Tom Heggie said: “We are caught between a rock and a hard place. At the moment Shane is running the poll simply to gather opinion which will form the basis of a consultation. We have to know what people are thinking.
“One suggestion is we put up signs at the bandstand advising cars not to park beyond a certain point and on match days having signs warning drivers they run the risk of their car being damaged by a cricket ball.
“We are just trying to mitigate the problem.
“If we stop parking on the cricket pitch altogether that will spill over into the Fishertown.”
He added: “If we had a regular pool of income over the years we would have been able to develop the infrastructure at the Links including upgrading toilets, expanding the car park and provision for motor homes – that is the idea behind the parking charges.
“We have a wide range of issues and have to find solutions.”
n What do you think? Email newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk
