‘Get involved’ call to make Nairn plan a reality
Residents have been urged to get behind development projects for the local area.
The call came during a public meeting last week as the steering group behind the delivery of Nairn’s first local place plan said if people want to see positive change they need to get involved.
Talking to residents and representatives of local organisations and businesses, members of Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE) and others involved in the development of the plan said the focus now needs to shift to seeing it effectively delivered.
“We’ve done a lot of work and there’s great potential, but we need to keep the momentum going, ”NICE chairman Alastair Noble said.
Local Highland councillor Michael Green said at the event: “Things don’t happen by chance. They happen through collaborative working, involving agencies, through private partnerships.
“The plan is there, it’s now time for people to get behind what they want to see happen. At the end of the day, this is a local place plan and people need to get involved in these groups and committees because, if they don’t, things won’t happen.”
The plan is currently awaiting formal validation by Highland Council and work will start to establish a leadership group.
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Nairn development plan is ‘best in Scotland’
Scott Dalgarno, Highland Council's development plans manager, said: “It was a really good opportunity for the community to launch the plan and to put it on a firm foundation for delivery. The council being part of it was really welcome because we got to reinforce that message about working in collaboration.
“Nairnshire now has joined a group of communities that have got to this point and that have a clear manifesto for change.”
NICE secretary Mandy Lawson said of the plan: “ It’s not called ‘Our Nairnshire’ for nothing …it is the people of Nairn that need to make it happen.
“I know we’ll have to work in new ways with the local authorities and private sector - and this is a prosperous town, there’s money in people’s pockets which could be invested, but no one invests money unless they are looking at something that’s credible and professional.
“Nairn is going to have to be very ambitious - we will need skills, knowledge and some money on the table to make this happen.
“We have a really good track record in Nairn of groups and working partnerships, such as Team Hamish.
“It can’t happen without local people supporting projects.
“It’s easy to sit back and say ‘you are doing it the wrong way.’ If you want it done the right way, come and help us, please, because that’s the essence of it.
“Nairn has never been as joined up as it has been this year, because so many came forward because they love this place and they want the best for it, and that’s the way we should keep going to make this happen.”
The Our Nairnshire plan is available to view online at ournairnshire.org
Anyone wishing to get involved can contact lpp@nicenairn.org.uk
Nairnshire residents have been urged to ‘get behind’ development projects for the area during a public meeting last week (Wednesday, Nov 27).
During the presentation of Nairn’s first local place plan, the steering group behind its delivery said that if people in Nairnshire want positive change, they need to get involved in the projects across the area.
Talking to an audience composed of residents and representatives of local organisations and businesses, members of Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE) and people involved in the development of the local place plan said work needs to continue to make sure the plan is effectively delivered.
“Nairn is a great place, with great potential,” said Alastair Noble, chair of NICE.
“There’s a really good group of people who have put in a lot of work and effort in this, and who I believe will continue to do so in the future.
“We’ve done a lot of work and there’s great potential, but we need to keep the momentum going.”
The event saw members of the steering group present the plan and what are the next steps for the delivery of the projects identified during several months of consultation with communities across Nairnshire.
Councillor Michael Green said at the event: “A big thank you to all those involved for driving this forward, they have been putting in a lot of work and effort.
“Things don’t happen by chance. They happen through collaborative working, involving agencies, through private partnerships.
“The plan is there, it’s now time for people to get behind what they want to see happen. At the end of the day, this is a local place plan and people need to get involved in these groups and committees because if they don’t things won’t happen.”
Now, the plan is among those who are awaiting for formal validation by the Highland Council and work will start to establish a leadership group.
Scott Dalgarno, Highland Council's Development Plans Manager, said: “It was a really good opportunity for the community to launch the plan and to put it on a firm foundation for delivery. The council being part of it was really welcome because we got to reinforce that message about working in collaboration.
“Nairnshire now has joined a group of communities that have got to this point and that have a clear manifesto for change.”
NICE secretary Mandy Lawson concluded: “ It’s not called ‘Our Nairnshire’ for nothing - if this is going to manifest itself as a plan these priorities are going to be taken forward - is the people of Nairn that need to make it happen.
“I know we’ll have to work in new ways with the local authorities and private sector - and this is a prosperous town, there’s money in people’s pockets, which could be invested, but no one invests money unless they are looking at something that’s credible and professional.
“Nairn is going to have to be very ambitious - we will need skills, knowledge and some money on the table to make this happen.
“We have some really good track record in Nairn of groups and working partnerships - such as with Team Hamish.
“It can’t happen without local people supporting projects. It’s easy to sit back and say ‘you are doing it the wrong way.’ If you want it done the right way, come and help us, please, because that’s the essence of it.
“Nairn has never been this joined up like it has this year, because so many came forward because they love this place and they want the best for it, and that’s the way we should keep going to make this happen.”
The local development plan Our Nairnshire is available online at ournairnshire.org.
Anyone wishing to get involved with the LPP can contact lpp@nicenairn.org.uk
