For Argyll

Not a great night for democracy. The Public meeting held at Lochgilphead to discuss the draft Loch Fyne Coastal Zone Management Plan had an attendance of ten, three of whom were from a single village - Furnace - and none of whom were Councillors elected to represent the area.

Issues raised by those present included the ongoing problem well known to local fishermen - of foreign trawlers entering Loch Fyne and destroying the creels of local prawn fishers - apparently deliberately. The - often tense, stand-off is locally referred to as ‘the prawn wars’. Any action which might be taken to resolve this situation depends upon physical and photographic evidence, which is not easy to obtain.

It was made clear at the meeting that the Scottish Government is the authority in Coastal Zone Management and that Councils will act in an advisory but not an enforcing capacity, when a final plan is adopted.