A reminder to Nairn town centre businesses that the Shopfront grant scheme is still available to help with the costs of painting, new signage, rainwater goods and works undertaken  to assist those with specific mobility needs or visual impairment.

Up to 50% of the costs can be claimed back under the scheme and application forms are available from the service point in the Court House.

Accusations and counter-accusations have been made of late about the identity of the person who nominated Nairn for the 'Carbuncle' award.

Urban Realm, which bills itself as 'the leading magazine  for the Architectural, design and specifying industries in Scotland', despatched Mark Chalmers to the town to get his personal perspective on whether Nairn's  entry in the 2011 Carbuncle awards was valid, or mischief.

We agree wholeheartedly with one of his closing  conclusions,  'Nairn has none of the anti-charisma which hangs around  carbuncle towns''

Read the full article here