YOUR VIEWS: The value of community
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Readers on the valuable role played by community councils and plans for a city park.
Recent ruling shows the value of community voice
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of community councils so it’s timely to acknowledge the diligence of Nairn’s community councils (together with the Nairn Residents Concern Group) in being finally vindicated by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in their challenge of the decision-making process for funding the town’s CAB building.
Nairn community councils’ role in local governance is sometimes maligned, but this decision and recent examples of reimbursement of parking revenue to Nairn’s Common Good Fund and exposure of the unenforceable harbour permit parking bays (‘Unbaylievable!’) demonstrates the value of their scrutiny of the workings of Highland Council officers and elected officials.
It’s a shame that such scrutiny has been necessary but one hopes that the Ombudsman decision will be a launch pad towards raising standards of collaboration and compliance and re-building trust in our local authority.
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Plans for change at city’s popular play park
Highland Council wants to hear from the public on what they think the future of Inverness’s Whin Park might look like. It is launching a public engagement survey to ask people for their ideas as the council plans the future of the popular park.
“It’s such a lovely green space where children can have the freedom to play. Spent many hours with my own children picnicking and playing. A complete tidy up and revamp would make all the difference.” – Josie Aitken
“Somewhat bizarrely, there was a long forgotten plan to have a zoo/wildlife park at Whin Park. The nearest we got were the re-located concrete hippos and elephants. Of course the remote location of Kincraig got the honour in the end.” – Alan Ross
“A facelift would help.” – Richard Faulkner
“Make it more like it was originally, like MacIntyre Pool as it was called then.” – Audrey Whitfield
“How about bringing the parks back to South Kessock?” – Allan Thomas Woodward
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