Nairn Bowling Club’s New Clubhouse Approved Amid Controversy

Plans to construct a new two-storey clubhouse and related infrastructure for the Nairn Bowling Club received approval from the Highland Council’s south planning applications committee (SPAC) last week, despite significant local opposition. The decision has raised questions about the integrity of the planning process, particularly after local councillors withdrew from the debate due to allegations of bias.

During the meeting held on September 26, 2023, councillors Paul Oldham, who serves as chair of the committee, and fellow ward member Barbara Jarvie excused themselves from discussing the application. Cllr Oldham cited a formal complaint from the Save Our Showfield (SOS) group, which accused him of bias regarding the approval of the clubhouse. He remarked that he was “implicitly accused of being biased” in relation to the application, noting that the SOS had threatened to escalate their concerns to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).

Despite these concerns, the committee proceeded with the recommendation from council officers, ultimately approving the application without any local councillor participating in the discussion. This absence of local representation was met with unease by some committee members, who expressed discomfort over the proceedings.

The SOS group responded to this decision by outlining their position in a letter submitted to the Highland Council’s planning department. A spokesperson for SOS stated that their correspondence, dated September 26, highlighted potential breaches of process between the Nairn Bowling Club and the council’s area committee. The letter referenced a 2023 ruling by the SPSO, which criticized the Highland Council for failing to maintain transparency and adhere to its own guidelines.

The spokesperson emphasized that the letter did not name any individuals or use the term “bias.” Instead, it raised concerns about the planning process itself. On the same day, SOS also submitted a comprehensive 35-page document to the planning department, detailing how the application did not conform to the Local Development Plan or national planning policies.

Following the publication of the planner’s report, SOS noted that their evidence appeared to have been overlooked. They reached out to the planning officer to address this omission, asserting that previous complaints about the council’s procedural failures had been upheld by the Ombudsman. “It is essential that this information is included in our reasons for objecting to this development,” the group stated in their communication.

To ensure visibility of their objections, SOS sent both the letter and the detailed document to SPAC members, along with a cover email explaining the apparent lack of consideration in the planner’s report. They highlighted that the number of objections to the clubhouse plan was significantly underestimated, with 303 objections formally recorded.

The decision to approve the clubhouse has not only stirred controversy but also prompted criticism from local residents. Several councillors voiced their concern over the absence of local representation during the proceedings. Cllr Andrew Mackintosh remarked that the local community was at fault for their lack of representation, suggesting that they had “gone against democracy.”

In response to the approval, Nairn Bowling Club’s development officer, Bob Ferenth, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. He thanked the Highland Council for its support and acknowledged the differing opinions within the community. “Our goal has always been simple — to provide quality, inclusive community facilities for the people of Nairn,” Ferenth stated, adding that the club would now move forward with the project while keeping the community informed.

As the community navigates this contentious issue, the Highland Council’s complaints department has yet to address the concerns raised by the SOS group. The controversy surrounding the Nairn Bowling Club’s clubhouse application highlights ongoing tensions between local governance and community engagement, raising questions about transparency and accountability in the planning process.