Nairn aims to get everyone involved with place plan development
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A group determined to make sure the community’s voice is heard on future planning matters in Nairn has held its first engagement event.
Representatives from a range of local groups as well as community councils gathered to kick off work on a local place plan setting out proposals for land use development and identifying land and buildings considered to be of particular significance to the local area.
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Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE) secretary Mandy Lawson said it was working to engaged as many people as possible in discussions about the town’s future.
“We can’t reverse-change the old local development plan but this local place plan comes within a gap of the old one being approved and a new plan which will fully draw on whatever we come up with,” she said.
“This is our one and only opportunity to really tell Highland Council what would be best for this area.”
Following the appointment of local place plan co-ordinator Kenny Spink – who has a background in architectural design – the steering group is ready to start an intensive programme of events leading up to the local place plan development.
The first was an “information download” evening supported by Iain Macpherson from Planning Aid Scotland and with Highland Council representatives on hand, in which local community organisations began to explore some of the key themes which emerged from a survey carried out last summer.
These include ideas about town centre regeneration, getting around, community amenities, employment and environment.
Members were able to discuss challenges and opportunities related to each theme, with the hope these can be further developed in future sessions.
Mr Spink said afterwards: “I think the event went well. The biggest thing for me was the acknowledgement from all corners that we need more cohesion rather than separate groups.
“Our next step will be our road show – with events set to take place around Nairnshire – and the scenario workshops, which essentially mean getting people in, putting them in a ‘pressure cooker’ and putting them in front of potential scenarios.”
Anyone interested in getting involved should email LPP@nicenairn.org.uk or see nicenairn.org.uk for more information.
