The good and bad of ‘nimbyism’ – not in my back yard
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COLUMN: The Postie Notes by Mark Gilbert
Nimbyism (not in my backyard) can be a force for good and bad. The good may be a campaign to stop 500 male asylum seekers being housed in a previously abandoned government facility, miles from nowhere, and close to a small community. But they have to go somewhere.
The bad campaign may want to stop a development of affordable housing near a millionaire’s row. But they have to go somewhere.
It’s the same with wind farms. The drive for renewable, clean energy has “forced” the poor energy companies to put them on nearly every hill in the Highlands. Personally, I agree with them, but I wouldn’t want one on Torrisdale, where I stay. You nimby, Gilbert!
On wind farms, since being up here, I have always wondered why the Skelpick turbines were placed in a direct line between the viewpoint (above Kirtomy) and the view of Ben Loyal, Ben Hope etc.
For what it’s worth, I think the energy companies would be welcomed more warmly if they gave free electricity to anybody who could see their turbines from their house, which would surely be more favourable than giving, what is small change to them, money for community funds as a sweetener.
This might be controversial, but writing an observational story can run a fine line between what one sees, and how the story develops, and is accepted. Some readers may love it, but others may not.
Since arriving as a postie in the Bettyhill area, I have liaised with the community council to get the road markings reinstated at the crossroads by the post office, after witnessing some close calls between older wifeys leaving the village to join the main road.
I have also successfully campaigned for a mirror to allow drivers and pedestrians exiting Newlands, to be able to see traffic coming up the hill. I noticed this issue when Pete and I marshalled the school’s annual charity walk, which crossed the road at this point.
I also put pressure on Highland Council to install a dropped kerb at the Post Office to allow local folk with mobility scooters to get closer to the doorway.
I get a bee in my bonnet when I see vehicles speeding along the main road in Bettyhill, because the 30 mph limit is only required to be observed for around 500 yards and some vehicles are way in excess of 30. Folk that park nose into the parking spaces opposite the post office run the risk (as they reverse out) of a coming together between them and one of the massive construction wagons rushing back and forth to Caithness, whilst they either service Mr Povlsen’s projects over west, or resurface roads.
I finished my delivery a couple of Saturdays ago, and when I arrived back at the post office, there were two police motorcycles on the fuel pumps. As I parked up they headed off west, and I thought that being on motorcycles they are more flexible in being able to deal with any road issues. I was pleased to see them.
I was shocked to read a warning to watch your speed as the secret police were down by Farr View with comments detailing where they have been seen. But what shocked me most was that the warning was “liked” by people with kids in the village.
One person was moaning about being caught speeding through Melvich and I said there was a foolproof way to avoid it – just do the speed limit in these small, restricted areas and you’ll be fine.
Mark Gilbert works as a postman in Bettyhill.
