GRANT Street will soon become known as Grub Street, according to Merkinch Community Council, in the light of the two new applications seeking planning permission for takeaways.
At their October meeting members pointed out that there already were seven such premises on the street, although Mr Khan's appeared to have closed. It was felt that to increase the number of fast-food outlets could only increase litter, parking and traffic problems.

The state of Grant Street is already causing the community council concern. Members pointed to the flooding that occurs on the blockwork behind the bus stop near the barber's, the disgraceful state of the three benches there, and the neglect of the flower beds at the railings in Anderson Street and Brown Street. “The sunken beds haven't been looked at since March,” said one. And while Grant Street and the car park was swept, there was no attention paid to the streets leading off it.

• A confrontation took place between two office-bearers over who had overall responsibility for the community council's financial decisions. Last month in the absence of treasurer Donnie Kerr an inquorate meeting agreed a grant to the Early Birds Club. Other members were afterwards contacted by phone at which point Mr Kerr had declared himself against such a grant on the grounds that in 1998 the community council had agreed not to award cash to other local bodies. He did, however, later agree to sign a cheque for a lesser amount. Chairwoman Dell McClurg took issue with Mr Kerr's single-handed decision to change the value of an award that everyone else had agreed to. He said that if he had not had the agreement of vice-chairman Anne McCreadie for the lesser amount he would not have signed the cheque at all. “You were outvoted,” said Dell McClurg, to which Mr Kerr replied that as treasurer he was responsible for the use of the council's finances. And they could complain to Highland Council if they liked. Dell McClurg asked that her opposition to Mr Kerr's actions be minuted.
• Members heard that at the most recent meeting of Carse Residents and Tenants Association there had been discussion about the possibility of blocking off the Upper Kessock Street path on the east of the Post Office.
• The next meeting of the Community Council is the AGM on 23 November.