Meeting planned to bring Nairn scheme to life
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A SCHEME that promises to revamp Nairn as a first-rate seaside shopping resort is reaching out to traders with a brain-storming exercise tomorrow night.
The Nairn Business Improvement District (Bid) is holding a "business open meeting" from 7.30pm to 9pm at the Golf View Hotel.
The event is open to all business owners and managers as well as community groups, school and charity representatives.
Alan Rankin, Bid project manager, is focused on bringing Nairn’s Bid proposal to a ballot in June.
He said: "There has been a great deal of work done in getting the idea of a Bid for Nairn to this stage.
"The next step is to broaden that involvement in order to bring in a wider range of ideas to help shape and make the Bid a success."
If voted through by traders, the Bid scheme would work by charging shop owners an annual levy, usually between one per cent and four per cent of rateable value.
The money would then be put into one big pot and spent on town centre and harbour improvements to boost tourism and potentially open the door to other larger funding streams.
A spokesman for the Nairn Bid steering group said: "From the research undertaken, the typical annual budget for a town of Nairn’s size would be about £150,000, and the typical small business would pay an annual levy in the range of £150 to £250.
"Big businesses like supermarkets would pay an annual levy of the order of £5000."
Mr Rankin added: "No two Bids are the same with the business plan and activities decided upon and prioritised by the local business community."
Michael Boylan, chairman of the Bid steering group, said: "The idea of a Bid for the Nairn area has been on the table for a couple of years now.
"It’s great that we are now at the stage where we are able to really get to grips with developing a plan that will be of benefit to the local economy and local businesses."
Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Highland Council have £50,000 to get the Bid scheme off the ground.
To register your interest in the meeting, contact Mr Rankin on alan@nairnconnects.com or on 07785 722936.
