NAIRN WARD FORUM
Wednesday, 24th February, 2010
Questions from Mrs. Wilcox re. snow clearance
1. Why does Highland Council not deliver salt to elderly people in November?
We do provide grit bins at strategic locations. However, there is no guidance on the provision of grit bins in the current policy and this is likely to be included in the next policy review. To provide salt directly to the elderly raises questions on how fit they would be to use it effectively. We do however prioritise areas such as Sheltered Housing in our schedule of treating footpaths
2. Why does Highland Council not encourage the public to clear their own pavements as they do in Austria, Germany and Switzerland?
The Road Scotland Act puts responsibility onto Local Authorities, so would require a change in legislation to transfer responsibility to businesses. We can encourage businesses etc, but if there was an accident (an elderly person falling on ice) the Local Authority is still liable under the Road Scotland Act, and would have to put forward a defence in law.
Question from Nairn River Community Council re. grit bins
3. Why does Highland Council not provide grit bins throughout Nairn?
Answered under No. 1.
Question from East Nairnshire Community Council re. Dial-a-Bus brought up at the previous Ward Forum under item (9.3)
4. The previous minute states:- LC advised that the guidelines for this service formed part of the question & answer session paper circulated under item 13.
Debbie McBean commented that the answer supplied was unsatisfactory as the literature/information is incorrect. DB added that the bus is not available from 8.00 am due to the school run, which is not mentioned in the leaflet, and the service is not available late enough to allow people coming off the Inverness train from work to make use of it. ACTION: LC to contact TECS again on this issue.
TECS have provided the following answer:-
The next Travel Guide which will be produced for the beginning of April states:-
Nairn Dial a Bus operated by Forres Taxi
All public roads within Nairnshire, and to / from Croy and Ardersier, except:
• Journeys which could reasonably be made by the Nairn town bus service
• Journeys which could reasonably be made by the Stagecoach services 10 or 305 along the A96 corridor (including Auldearn)
Hours of Operation
Monday to Saturday 0800 – 1730.
Does not operate between 0845-0915 and 1515-1550 on schooldays.
Booking Arrangements
The vehicle will be available by pre-booking only for any journeys within the area of operation and during the times specified. Bookings should be made before 1800 on day before intended journey. For more information, please call 0800 834 233
In terms of the hours of operation, it should operate 0800 to 1730 with no operation between 0845-0915 and 1515-1550 on schooldays as there is a requirement in the contract to fulfil the timetable below.
Schooldays only
Bogside of Boath 0845 Auldearn Primary School 1520
A96: Penick road end 0847 Kingsteps 1527
Ellands railway bridge 0852 Drumduan crossroads 1530
Easterton 0858 Easterton 1534
Drumduan crossroads 0902 Ellands railway bridge 1542
Kingsteps 0905 A96: Penick road end 1547
Auldearn Primary School 0912 Bogside of Boath 1549
The bus should operate from 0800 as long as the driver can return to Bogside of Boath in time to operate the service at 0845.
In terms of the second issue that the bus is not available late enough to allow people coming off the Inverness train from work (1728 in Nairn) to make use of it, TECS have advised that an extension of operating hours would no doubt lead to an increase in the standby price but when they are being asked for significant cuts in the TECS budget, they feel unable to recommend an extension.
5. Question from Keeping Nairnshire Colourful re. floral displays:-
Given the announced cuts to Highland Council spending, can Nairn Ward give assurances that there will be sufficient funds for all the seasonal beds & hanging baskets in Nairn to be planted up & maintained this year & for the foreseeable future."
The local TECS budget has not been set as yet. However, it is expected that savings will have to be made across the board and this may impact on the landscaping side along with other elements of the services provided by TECS locally.