Home Bargains plan for Inverness - ‘ridiculous’ or ‘welcome’?
Help for those in need this winter
As we head further into the colder months and are layering up our winter woollies, I would like to share with readers the support that’s available through Royal Voluntary Service.
We’ve found through research that at this time of year, unfortunately, feelings of isolation and loneliness can increase, which can impact our health and wellbeing. We want to be there for as many people as possible this winter, and so together with our friends at Yakult, we have created the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide. The guide is filled with essential information, practical tips, and advice to help people navigate the challenges of winter.
The guide also encourages us all to make sure we are socially connected and have support in place as we face the difficulties the season can bring.
The guide includes details on how readers can sign up for Royal Voluntary Service’s telephone support services, which match volunteers who are available for a friendly chat, with people across the country who are looking to make new connections, share a story or a joke, and ease feelings of loneliness and isolation. It also shares information on accessing the charity’s Virtual Village Hall online community of events and activities.
The impact of social connection and having someone to turn to for support and conversation cannot be overstated, and we even found that 42 per cent of those who receive telephone support from our volunteers say they visit their GP less.
I’d like to encourage readers to download the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide and find out more, at www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/safe-warm-well. Physical copies of the guide can also be requested by calling 0800 731 9197, a small P&P charge will apply.
Wishing everyone season’s greetings and a Happy New Year.
Sam Ward OBE
Deputy chief executive of Royal Voluntary Service
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Support Rewilding Nation plan
As Sir David Attenborough put it: “We are dependent on the natural world for every breath of air we take and every mouthful of food we eat.” But nature is in trouble, with Scotland ranked as one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries.
We are asking readers to sign the Rewilding Nation Charter – a call on the Scottish Government to declare Scotland the world’s first Rewilding Nation, with a commitment to nature recovery across 30 per cent of its land and seas.
We can achieve this by restoring habitats including peatlands, native woodlands, wetlands, rivers and seas, while maintaining and benefitting productive farmland.
Rewilding offers hope for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, benefitting jobs, health, sustainable food, clean air and water, and thriving communities.
The Charter has already been signed by thousands of people from all walks of life and many diverse organisations.
Please add your voice to the Charter’s groundswell of hope at www.rewild.scot/charter.
Steve Micklewright (CEO, Trees for Life) and Karen Blackport (CEO, Bright Green Nature), convenors of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance
Findhorn
Council sitting on £13m developer contributions
Highland Council has only managed to build an additional 15 classrooms using developer contributions in the last five years despite sitting on more than £13 million of payments from 941 housing projects. With many residents concerned about how local infrastructure can cope with new housing developments being created in Inverness and elsewhere The Inverness Courier dug into the issue by way of Freedom of Information requests.
“I think a new hospital is badly needed.” - Lisa McKelvie
“Nice to see some proper investigation into local services, shame the council are not spending the money on the infrastructure they are supposed to provide. This needs more attention.” - Elly Russell
“I asked this several times of the council. Finally the planning team responded to say that the infrastructure ratio, if you like, for # number of houses should equate to x amount of money towards surgery, hospital, teaching etc the like from the developers was not their responsibility. And they couldn’t confirm whose it was.” - Kerk Simleit
“£13m not spent suggests the developer contributions per new house are too high.” - Alan Ogilvie
“Adding new class rooms only help if there are teachers available to cover the added stress of more pupils?” - Sibina Sutherland
Councillors to consider Home Bargains plan
Plans for a new £6 million Home Bargains store in Smithton - previously expected to cost around £5 million - are to be decided at Highland Council’s south planning committee next week.
“It better get refused, it is ridiculous where they’re planning to put it, a stone throw away from our houses, not in keeping with the green space that should be there. Where do you see this happening anywhere else in the city? Position it closer to the retail park like it should be. The traffic and roads about it are a nightmare at the best of times, to add this would be disastrous. I’d be even more raging to pay £250-300k for a house to literally be able to see inside it. I’d love to know the reasoning for being the only thing out in this housing scheme when a small shop, school, doctors etc wasn’t a priority.” - Carlie Davidson
“ I don't use the one in town because of the stupid parking restrictions so welcome an out of town one.” - Laura Grant
Letters should be submitted to newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk. Please include your address and a daytime contact number. You can also tweet us: @InvCourier or leave a comment on Facebook @invernesscourier
