Nairn Games Day set to go ahead as planned amidst concerns of bin strikes impact
The most anticipated event on Nairn’s calendar is set to return on Saturday despite worries that a bin strike in Highland would clash with the day.
Nairn Games Committee members said they were made aware of “worries circulating in the town”, with the fear being that the Games may have difficulty in going ahead as planned due to the industrial action proposed for Council workforce.
However Nairn Games convenor said that although the committee had grown a little concerned as well, that the contents have been “well and truly laid to rest.”
He said: “The Games Committee (an independent committee of volunteers) sought out the latest information, from various sources and reputable channels – in order to find out the up-to-date picture on availability of council workforce, for setting up the Highland Games.
“It was important for us to get a handle on what support might be forthcoming from the Highland Council, and what might not. Only then would we be able to make our contingency plans.
“We were contacted last week by a Council spokesperson, reassuring us that the proposed industrial action does not involve any of the Council Staff that work on setting up the Games field. That in turn allows me, with great pleasure, to announce that the Games are on, in the usual way!”
He said that the Games Committee were confident that even if things hadn’t worked out so well, the Games would still have gone ahead anyway.
“Nairn is the kind of place where the community would have pulled together, and offers of help were received from local businesses – so, just like 1867, (when it looked like 1st January Games would be called off due to heavy snow), many people would have mucked in so that everyone could enjoy Nairn’s Big Day.”
The games - the only free Highland Games in the Highlands - will be back at Nairn Links on Saturday, August 17 for their 147th edition, with organisers hoping in “a little bit of sunshine, and a great turnout” to make the day yet another success.
