Public Consultation on Town Centre Action Plans for Tain, Nairn and Fort William

The Highland Council is consulting on draft Town Centre Action Plans for the towns of Tain, Nairn and Fort William following consultation events held during April and May 2014.  

The draft Action Plans reflect ideas raised by communities and business representatives to help increase footfall and deliver town centre regeneration. They focus on key priorities including environmental improvements, making better use of land and existing buildings and improving access and movement networks.  

The Council would like to hear your views on the draft Action Plans. Are these the right priorities and proposals to tackle town centre regeneration? What partnership-working is needed to deliver these projects?  

The Draft Action Plans can be viewed online by visiting The Highland Council’s website or from Council Headquarters on Glenurquhart Road in Inverness. Hardcopies of each plan will also be available to view from various locations in the three town areas: 

• In Tain they will be available at the Service Point, Library and at Tain Royal Academy Community Complex. 

• In Nairn the locations are the Service Point, Library and Nairn Community and Arts Centre

• In Fort William they can be viewed at the Service Point, Library and The Nevis Centre  

Events will be held in each town centre during March and April where the draft plans can be viewed and discussed with Council staff. These events will include a public drop-in session between 2 and 5pm, followed by a discussion with representatives from the Council and HIE at 6pm.

• Tain -  Monday 23 March in the Church Hall of Tain Parish Church.

• Nairn – Tuesday 24 March in The Court House on the High Street

• Fort William – Wednesday 29 April in The Chamber at Lochaber House.

The quickest and easiest way to comment on the draft Action Plans is by using the Online Form. Alternatively please email your comments to devplans@highland.gov.uk or post to: Town Centre Action Plans, Development and Infrastructure Service, The Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX. You can also submit comments at the consultation events above.  

All comments should be received by the Council no later than the 15 May 2015.

Chair of the Council’s Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Thomas Prag is encouraging people to take up this opportunity to get involved. He said: “From the initial meetings in the communities of Tain, Nairn and Fort William, we’ve made real progress and I’d like to thank everyone who has already been involved up to this stage for their time and effort. We are now looking for people to give us their feedback on the draft Action Plans. As well as working towards turning aspirations of the communities into reality, it is also about protecting and enhancing the important heritage of these three towns for the benefit of people wishing to visit, live, work or operate a business there for many years to come. No doubt everyone will have different views and ideas on what they’d like to see and what they feel the priorities are which is why we want as many people as possible to not only come along to the drop-in events but use the on-line form to let us know their views.”  

If you require any further information regarding the Town Centre Action Plans please contact the Development Plans Team by email at devplans@highland.gov.uk or by calling 01349 886608.