Designs have been revealed for a new walkway between a housing estate in Nairn and an industrial area and business park.

Three options have been developed by the Highland Council, but no firm price tag has been attached.

And while the pedestrian and bicycle link across the Inverness-Aberdeen rail line – which connects Lochloy and Balmakeith – has so far been widely welcomed, a community leader would be keen to see alternatives.

Hamish Bain, president of the Nairn River Community Council, believes “all options” should be on the table, including a “more ambitious” bridge that allows vehicle access to relieve traffic congestion in Nairn au Lochloy / Merryton junction with the A96.

The Highland Council has been criticized for allowing the construction of 1,000 properties in Lochloy over the past two decades without any vehicular access directly to the A96.

Instead, traffic must access the national road via Lochloy Road at the traffic lights, creating a bottleneck.

Mr Bain said the community council would consider residents’ views before responding.

“If the crossing goes as proposed here as an ‘active displacement’ link, it will have to meet the needs of all who want to use it,” he said.

“We are also seeing calls today on social media from local residents for a second road to connect the Lochloy estate across the railroad with the A96 east of Nairn. Perhaps there is an opportunity to solve several problems at once by considering a more ambitious “level crossing” which connects Lochloy more directly to the A96 and the retail park by car, via Balmakeith or more to east, while also allowing “active travel” for walkers. and cyclists, by improving safe routes to schools, by integrating correctly with the next A96 ring road.

“As there is only one chance of making this pass for Nairn and it will be largely funded [via developer contributions] by locals who have bought houses in Lochloy – we expect ‘all options’ to be on the table when the public consultation takes place.

He stressed that he welcomed safer and more accessible active travel routes in Nairn to reduce “car addiction”.

Sheena Baker, President of the Nairn West Suburban Community Council, said: “There are complex issues to consider here, not just for those who will want to use the crossing and those who live nearby, but for a larger infrastructure to East Nairn and Nairnshire.

While the crossing is well received by many on social media, residents near where the crossing would be have reportedly voiced concerns that it overlooks the properties.

Steven Grant, Project Engineer for Highland Council, said: “The route was identified in the Inner Moray Firth local plan and recognized the need for a convenient link for active travel to the business park.

“There are a number of significant design issues to overcome to provide such a facility, but the main hurdles are the bridging of the main track and the provision of compliant ramp facilities for cyclists, wheelchair users. and people pushing strollers etc.

“The project is funded by the Highland Council, through developer contributions, and Transport Scotland, through Sustrans and their Places for Everyone funding stream.

“A number of design considerations, including an underpass and elevators, were also taken into account, but excluded in terms of ground conditions, utility conflicts, maintenance and public safety / security. “

He added, “This consultation exercise involves looking at three concepts and the public’s views. The designs are currently in the design stage, which means that they have been produced and meet the design criteria, but are at a stage where only the design principles are defined. Design appearance, finishes and exact dimensions / location may change to accommodate future design comments, concerns and issues.

“As with most projects of this type, it will require a planning agreement and at this point we will seek further consultation / comment on a more refined design.”

• The public can contact community councils with their views at info.nrivercc@gmail.com and info@nwscc.com

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Muslims in England have gathered for Eid al-Adha celebrations after strict social distancing rules were lifted.

Families gathered across the country to mark the second of two Eid festivals in the Islamic calendar and were able to pray nearby after restrictions were eased on Monday.

However, some have remained cautious about the possibility of meeting in large groups as Covid cases remain high in England.

Davinder Niggar, 70, attended a large Eid festival in Southall Park, west London on Tuesday, which featured rides and music.

The Southall local said: “I really appreciate it.

“It’s good that the restrictions have been lifted.

“However, we still have to be careful.”

Other Muslims celebrated the day with their loved ones.

Munevver Odemis, 23, a trainee teacher from Dalston, east London, said: “Because my family is overseas and with the restrictions and Turkey on the red list, I’m partying with my brothers as they are here.

“I will also probably visit my sister who lives here in the afternoon.

“A lot of people I know are reluctant to go to people’s homes because even though the restrictions have been lifted, cases continue to rise.

“One thing I hesitate about is that at Eid we distribute sweets, but we also give money to children if we do not have gifts and the money passes out of hand. in hand.

“It’s a little scary.”

Anita Begum, 24, from Mile End, east London, spends most of Eid at work, but remains cautious about how she celebrates.

The guardian said: “With the restrictions lifted, I am quite nervous as not everyone gets vaccinated or wants to be vaccinated and large crowds are gathering for the Eid festivities.

“The lifting of the restrictions hasn’t really affected the way I celebrate. “

Eid al-Adha, or feast of sacrifice, is one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar and follows the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

It celebrates the moment when Ibrahim had a dream which he believed to be a message from Allah asking him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience.

As Ibrahim was about to kill his son, Allah would have given him a lamb to sacrifice instead.

Eid al-Adha comes after Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and was celebrated in May while the Covid restrictions were still in place.

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Scotland Yard said 11 people were arrested during an anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protest in Westminster, which saw protesters block a road and force traffic to stop on so-called ‘Freedom Day “.

Protesters held up placards and chanted ‘freedom’ as they gathered in Parliament Square on Monday after nearly all remaining restrictions on coronaviruses were lifted in England.

Metropolitan Police said shortly after 3 p.m. officers continued to respond to the protest in central London and 11 people had been arrested for various offenses.

In a Twitter post, the force added: “Our police operation continues, unfortunately the officers were greeted with hostility as they engaged with the crowd.”

Images posted on social media show protesters clashing with officers in the middle of the road on Parliament Street near Westminster tube station, where hundreds of protesters had gathered.

Bottles were thrown at officers, many of whom were wearing helmets, as scuffles erupted and protesters shouted curses at police amid sweltering temperatures in the capital.

Dan Andersson, a 61-year-old Oxford entrepreneur, joined the protest which he said was “a petition to file a complaint against the erosion of our civil liberties.”

“I have two teenagers – I see it as a struggle for them and their future,” he told the PA News Agency.

Mr Andersson said the crowd “was not violent”, but added: “The crowd was angrier, more lively than in previous protests in London.

“Near Parliament Square there was a dead end against an impromptu line of petitioners – some pushing and shoving, a few arrests.

“Someone fell on the front line – the police and protesters helped him up, which was nice.”

Another participant, who declined to be named, told the AP that there had been “a lot of abuse directed at the police” by those demonstrating.

The anti-lockdown protest comes on the day most lockdown restrictions have been relaxed in England, including the end of social distancing rules and face masks are no longer mandatory in shops and on public transport.

Earlier Monday, protesters spilled out of the square and into the road outside Parliament, stopping traffic and directing officers to urge those involved to get off the road.

An officer was seen locking a door at the entrance to Parliament as those outside held signs with anti-vaccination and anti-police messages, some chanting “shame on the police” and “Boris arrest Johnson “.

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The Speaker of the House of Commons pleaded with MPs to continue wearing face coverings and “not to push the limits for fun” following the easing of restrictions in England.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the chamber he was “very concerned” after a “large number” of people were contacted to isolate.

Unions representing Parliament-based staff have already written to the President urging him to reconsider the post-July 19 guidelines, in which politicians will be encouraged to wear a mask but will not be required to wear one.

However, it is compulsory for estate personnel to continue to wear blanket.

Responding to the unions, Sir Lindsay said last week that there was “no meaningful way” for him to force MPs to wear face coverings from Monday.

Sir Lindsay, making a statement at the start of the procedure on Monday, said: “With the levels of infection increasing in the community and people needing to self-isolate, I strongly advise everyone on the field to wear coveralls. faces as they move around, assessing eating places and in areas they consider crowded, including the bedroom.

“We have four sitting days before the House rises.

“I really want us to behave safely, responsibly, during these few days.

“None of us want to risk bringing Covid back to our families, staff or constituents and I am sure we want everyone who works on the estate to feel safe and secure the continued business of this house.

“I have to say that we certainly have a large number of people who have been contacted, so I am very concerned about the outcome.

“Four days later, I want us all to have a good break and enjoy our vacation, so I hope we take this seriously and don’t push the limits for the sake of it.”

Most of the MPs in the uncrowded room wore masks at the start of questions from the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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