Progress continues on Nairn Links Toilet Project with up to £200,000 funding allocation and volunteers praised after successful Nairn Highland Games

The Nairnshire Committee (which met on 24 August 2026) agreed to allocate up to £200,000 from Nairn Common Good Fund as the first part of the capital funding package for the Links Toilets Project.

The project will create a new public toilet facility including a fully accessible Changing Places toilet, helping to improve accessibility and enhance the visitor experience at one of Nairn’s most popular destinations. Developed through extensive community engagement, the project supports the priorities identified in Nairn’s Local Place Plan and Links Development Plan.

The project has already reached a number of key milestones, including community consultation, the selection of a preferred design and the submission of a planning application. Subject to planning approval, work will now continue on the detailed design, while the Project Board seeks additional funding to support the estimated £509,000 capital build cost.

Chair of the Nairnshire Area Committee, Councillor Michael Green, commented:  “The Links are one of Nairn's greatest assets and this funding commitment reflects the importance of providing facilities that meet the needs of residents and visitors. This project has been shaped by considerable community engagement and will deliver a modern, inclusive facility that improves accessibility while enhancing the overall visitor experience. I am delighted that the Committee has been able to support the next stage of this important project.”

Nairn Highland Games – Saturday, 15 August 2026

During the meeting, members also thanked the volunteers, charities and community organisations whose efforts helped make this year's Nairn Highland Games a success. From stewarding and programme sales to family support, lost property and welfare provision, dozens of volunteers worked throughout the day to ensure visitors enjoyed a safe and welcoming event.

Members praised the contribution of local charities including SSAFA, St John's, Citizens Advice, Nairn Book and Arts Festival, Mikeysline and Green Hive.

Special recognition was also given to Green Hive and its volunteers for their environmental efforts during and after the Games. A competition encouraged young people to collect discarded plastic bottles for recycling, while a team of 12 volunteers worked alongside Highland Council's Waste Team the following day to clear the site.

Winter Service Plan approved 

Councillors were also presented with and approved the Winter Service Plan for 2026/27.  The plan secures essential gritting routes, gritter deployment schedules and local salt stocks to ensure the area’s road network remains resilient to extreme winter weather.

A focus of this year’s winter planning is the promotion of the Council’s Winter Resilience Scheme, which empowers communities to take a direct role in local winter safety.  Under this initiative, local communities can submit applications via their Community Council to carry out footway gritting within an agreed area.  The Highland Council supports these volunteer efforts by providing salt, grit, grit bins, scrapers, and reflective safety vests.  It acts as an invaluable partnership to provide an enhanced, localised level of service to residents.

Communities can find out more about the Winter Resilience scheme on our website.

Also during Monday’s Nairnshire meeting: 

Invitation to Pay Parking Scheme 

Members were advised that more than £24,000 of income (net of costs) was generated by the Invitation to Pay Parking Scheme operating in Ward 18 and this will be added to the Nairn Common Good Fund.

The Scheme, under which visitors are invited to pay a donation for parking at three locations within Ward 18, has been in operation since May 2021 at The Harbour, Cumming Street and The Maggot Car Parks. 

Ward Discretionary Fund payments

Members also noted the Ward Discretionary Fund payments that had been approved since the previous meeting of the Committee.  These were: