YOUR VIEWS: Concerns over Nairn Library facilities move; and inability to secure velodrome funding for Inverness 'disappointing', says Green candidate in Highland Council election

Access is vital for town library

I’m sitting in Nairn Library using the computer.

If High Life Highland has their way this will be denied me as there is no way that I could get to the Academy (there are currently proposals to move Nairn Libarry from its current base in the town’s High Street to become part of the new Nairn Academy when it is built – editor).

Getting older is a pain without organisations that should try to help putting obstacles in the way.

The library in the High Street is convenient for all who come into town; a welcoming place for those in need of shelter or books; a computer for those who are not confident online.

The staff have kept us going (when allowed) through lockdowns and disappointment.

One day those at High Life who drive the desks will be old.

Let us hope that essential services are available to them.

As you get older access is all!

Sue Hood, Stuart Street, Ardersier

Sports facilities was Greens idea

The recently-reported difficulty in securing funding for a velodrome at Beechwood in East Inverness is certainly disappointing.

But this difficulty reflects a more deep-seated and long-standing problem of political malaise on the issue.

During the planning stage of the Beechwood complex, more than 10 years ago now, local residents were promised access to the sports facilities then scheduled for the UHI.

Sadly, finance for these facilities was not ultimately forthcoming.

Disappointingly, local ward councillors took no action to remedy the situation.

It wasn’t until last autumn when we in the Highlands and Islands Green Party called on the council to include provision for a regional sports centre at Beechwood in its then forthcoming discussions about its capital programme.

We subsequently held constructive and informative meetings with the leader of The Highland Council and High Life Highland.

We were then pleased, though also surprised, to learn that Lib Dem, SNP and other ward councillors had seized on our proposal, and had established a working group to address the issue and claiming it was their idea.

Securing funding for a regional sports facility will be a challenging task, and will require sustained and co-operative input from all parties.

We hope to have more Greens elected this time round to help deliver this.

Ryan Mackintosh, Scottish Green candidate for Inverness West

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