Last chance to give feedback on Common Good Land near Seaman's Hall as consultation closes tomorrow
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A PUBLIC consultation on an area of Common Good land in Nairn closes this week.
After taking over the Seaman’s Victoria Hall and turning it into a community hub, charity Green Hive asked about acquire a strip of land adjacent to the hall.
Highland Council have been asking members of the public for their views on the disposal of the land – of just over 50 square metres – which Green Hive would use to house an extension to the building.
A consultation document reads: “The small strip of land is considered to have a negligible rental value and given the proposed use of the land in connection with an extension, this option is considered to have little merit.
“In considering the proposal for a permanent disposal, value must be balanced against the possible market for the land and the use for which its acquisition is being sought. Any land can be attributed a value and it is reasonable to consider this strip of land being valued on the basis of “garden ground” rates as evidenced elsewhere in Nairn.
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“That stated and as stated above, there is unlikely to be any general market interest in such a strip of land.”
Concerns have been raised at joint community council meetings for Nairn West and Suburban and Nairn River on whether the land’s value is actually negligible.
Another issue has been raised over the “inalienability” of Common Good land, which sees Highland Council obliged to seek court consent before disposing of Common Good land.
In this case the council said it does not consider it will be necessary seek Sheriff Court approval given that the land had been used for private purposes rather than public.
The land concerned is one of several small “pockets” of land which are remnant of Charter land around Nairnshire – and are therefore identified as Common Good.
Those interested can see the full consultation and leave their feedback on the Highland Council's website.
