EmmaMaree.com YA Writer, Tech Support Girl & Tea Addict

Nairn StreetScape Phase 2 Info

Some info for the locals now, but nothing of interested to those outside of Nairn I'm afraid. The local Nairn blogs have full permission to repost this information.

Just got a letter in about the second phase of Nairn's 'Streetscape', which is basically when a bunch of builders hang about and the air becomes gritty with concrete dust. The High Street is closed off to, but since you shouldn't really be parking there, you rebels, it's not a big thing. (I'm only messing, it's a big annoyance).

Here's a run down of the points:

• Work starts on the 26th April 2010, lasting approx. 24 weeks. (Expect delays, I always do.)
• Contractors will be working Mon - Fri 8am - 6pm, Saturday 8am - 1pm or at the discretion of the contractor. There may be some evening working, but there will be no Sunday working.
• The High Street road will be closed off completely, with access for deliveries. Other roads may have bits fenced off, and/or have the widths temporarily reduced but shouldn't be completely closed off unless it's for road surfacing.
• The works are from Gordon Street to Leopold Street/Cawdor Street starting in Castle Square's south footway area, moving north to south in the first 10 weeks. Then it moves to the north footway (Court House area) moving south to north for 20 weeks. Road surfacing takes up the last 3-4 weeks. These times are "subject to change".
• Private parking areas may be blocked off by the works. (If you have private parking, I'd probably give them advance warning that you won't be pleased if they block yours.)
• Disabled access will be maintained at all times to shops, businesses and residencies, and if it can't be, "arrangements will be made with the occupiers".
• Bin collections & emergency service access are unaffected.
• There will be a comments box in Nairn Court House, the library, and the Community Centre for anyone to use regarding Streetscape works.
• The "on site staff" will be the most effective point of contact for any issues you might have. (Which seems to mean the contractors.)

A nice summary of the work was found here.

The proposed works comprise full width refurbishment of the existing road, footway and kerbing on Nairn High Street, from Gordon Street to Leopold Street. The works extend just beyond the bellmouth junctions at Douglas Street and Church Street and includes resurfacing at Castle Square. Further works include: -Reconfiguration of parking bays, loading bays and wheelchair parking. -Reconfiguration of kerb lines in Castle Lane to provide traffic calming. -Full depth road reconstruction with bituminous surfacing. -Full depth footway reconstruction with natural stone paving slabs. -Provision of additional drainage -Replacement of existing street furniture including benches, planters, bins and cycle stands. -New road signage and markings.

Hopefully this'll be useful to someone. Enjoy your weekend!

EDIT: Fixed the odd typo and grammar issue. I was in a hurry to head to the Haveloch. ;P

Delicatessen Is Hard to Spell

Hi guys! It's the weekend, and I kind of want to go out and be wild and social. It's not something I'm very good at, so it's probably a good thing that this isn't happening and am kicking about being artsy/techy instead.

Saw this in the papers earlier this week, and couldn't help but think that it's something Inverness town centre could definitely use...

It's a mock-up store front used to hide ugly empty buildings and show potential buyers what the building could be capable of. A pretty snazzy advertising plan, in my opinion - especially compared to what was before.

A few weeks ago I would have said Nairn could have used some of these as well, but we recently got the real thing.

Been thinking about music a bit recently - nothing exactly philosophical, mind. After trying to talk music with some colleagues and tripping over myself going "b-but I'm known for having bad taste" and being told the bands I like are fine, I've twigged that I've been spending too much time worrying about who's going to yell at me for liking the wrong band. It's nice to stop caring and just enjoy my eceletic tastes.

Speaking of which, this weekend I've been head over heels for my new alt-rock favourites Ludo's concept album "Broken Bride" - have a listen here, where you can stream the whole thing. It's best listened to in order, but my favourite standalone track is "Part III: The Lamb and the Dragon" for it's almost metal-style riffs and darker redux of Part I's chorus.

It has a great storyline that strikes a few chords with me due to all the regret that's been gnawing at my thoughts lately. The main character "The Traveler" spends 15 years building a time machine so he can go back and save his girlfriend, who was killed in a car crash in May 1989. The machine malfunctions and sends him back to prehistoric times where he's attacked by Pterodactyls, before running past them to his machine and getting sent forward to the end of time, where the world has been hit by a zombie apocalypse and a Tyrant King resembling the Antichrist is summoning a Dragon to destroy the world!

It's silly, but with a sweetly romantic edge and a stand out ending. I enjoy it! Especially because it gives me a chance to sing: "I CRASHED BEFORE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, PTERODACTYLS SCREAMING."

Last but not least, a song I enjoy that's a bit out of my normal listening range...

TIGHT JEANS. DOUBLE DS. MAKING ME GO *WHOO WHOO*.