HMS Daring, the first of the new Type 45 Destroyers – the Daring class, taking its name from the first of the type – left the Clyde this evening for the last time. As we publish this we can see her, via an online ship tracking service, on a steady 6.5 knot passage south, Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2009
Scottish Water holds Open Day on new public waste water system on Isle of Seil
Scottish Water hosted an Open Day on Seil on Wednesday 14th January to update all interested parties on the progress of its £8million project there aimed at improving the marine environment off the island.
More than 40 people came to Seil Island Village Hall to find out more about the scheme, to look at diagrams and maps and to ask questions.
Work continues on the project, which will provide a new public waste water system on the island’s east coast and connect more than 160 properties in the Clachan-Seil and Balvicar areas to the network for the first time.
The project – expected to be completed this spring, will mean an end to waste water from almost all properties there being discharged into Seil Sound with little or no treatment. This will have a positive impact on the waters off the island’s east side, to the advantage of the quality of the shellfish available there.
McGrigor in Holyrood debate on proposal to end crofters’ Bull Hire scheme
Highlands MSP, Jamie McGrigor, has from the outset led the objections to the proposed removal of the traditional bull hire scheme which has been of real benefit to, among others, Scotland’s crofters.
The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood today debated the issue and McGrigor joined battle, having seen off an attempt in 2004 to abandon the scheme.
In his speech, McGrigor said: ‘Little did I think in 2004 when I had a debate on a similar motion that I would be required to have another debate on this subject less than five years later! I thank members of all parties for supporting my motion on a scheme we virtually all still know as the Bull Hire Scheme. Peter Peacock has a similar and useful motion on this subject which I have also supported. (ED: this refers to a motion of support for the bull hire scheme tabled by Peter Peacock MSP and Rhoda Grant MSP which has received support from across other political parties. They are pledged to continue fighting for the retention of the scheme and will be asking various further Parliamentary Questions on issues surrounding the way the costs of the bull hire scheme are calculated, the answers to which, they believe, will provide further strength in the continuing arguments to retain the scheme.)
‘It is my job as a Highlands & Islands MSP to speak out about the concerns of my constituents and so I make no apologies for holding today’s debate on an issue that is of legitimate concern to many hundreds of my crofting constituents. And one of the crucial points I want to emphasise to the Minister is that the current bull hire scheme has helped to a great extent to maintain stock quality and health in the Highlands and Islands.
‘The future of crofting depends on having the best possible produce for the marketplace. Government should be doing all in its power to support this aim and not to diminish it. Many crofters will tell you that sheep quality has suffered since the tup hire scheme came to an end- we cannot allow this to be repeated in the beef sector, especially at a time when the SAC and RSE reports highlight the worrying decline in stock numbers. Why then does the government want to withdraw a proven and successful scheme?’
On the two reasons given for the proposed abolition of the scheme – its cost and its legality under EU rules – Jamie McGrigor dealt first with the issue of cost.
‘The annual report of the Crofters Commission 2007/08 shows an overall loss of £140,000. Interestingly, this was £100,000 less than the loss of 06/07 and was achieved though increased receipts and lower running costs. And many crofters have suggested to me that receipts could have been even greater had there been more flexibility allowed in terms of the timescale for crofters applying to the scheme.
‘So the scheme makes a small loss each year but can the Minister tell us what % of overall support to the crofting sector that loss amounts to? Wouldn’t most sensible people think it was a small price worth paying to ensure healthy and quality cattle are thriving throughout the Highlands & Islands? And can the Minister really guarantee that his alternatives will not inconvenience crofters and will cost the taxpayer less? I would be amazed if he could do this’.
On the issue of legality under EU legislation, his argument was: ‘The Crofters Commission’s own website makes clear that the scheme is permissible under “De Minimus State Aid”. What has changed? Has the legal advice given to the last Scottish Executive that specifically said the scheme could perfectly well continue under these rules suddenly altered? If so will the Minister publish such legal advice? I asked my colleague Struan Stevenson MEP and he was very clear: nothing has changed since 2004 in this regard’.
He went on to pay generous tribute to Jim Mather and then to turn that to the advatage of his argument.
‘I think Mr Mather made a key point in 2004. This is about fighting for our producers as every other country in Europe rightly does and there is a very strong case to be made. The Minister has a reputation for being clever and I agree with this and that politics is the art of the possible. Surely it is not beyond the abilities of the Minister and his officials to come up with some form of continued, centrally-run bull hire scheme that meets with any EU objections – assuming these do exist – and in doing so maintains stock quality and retains the support of the vast majority of crofters’.
McGrigor finished with a characteristically humorous flourish: ‘I look forward to the Minister’s response to this important debate. I am sure he will know this is the Chinese Year of the Ox so let it be the Scottish year of the bull’.
Transport Scotland to remove lethal wooden roadside barriers in Argyll – Mather welcomes triumph for public opinion
What Argyll’s MSP Jim Mather has welcomed as a triumph for public opinion is just that. Transport Scotland has finally given way on the issue of the wooden roadside barriers that allegedly caused such dreadful injuries to people whose vehicles crashed into them. For Argyll has been graphic on such injuries in past reports to underline just how appallingly dangerous these barriers were. We have no need now to repeat or add to that.
Transport Scotland has announced that it is taking steps to replace these recently erected wooden barriers which, in earlier installations, were responsible for several fatal accidents in the 1970s and 1980s.
Mr Mather congratulates those concerned members of the public who very actively campaigned against the fences. This included:
- medical practitioners and paramedics – who had reason to know at first hand just how awful were the injuries the fences had caused before
- local councillors like Donnie MacMillan who also knew what had happened last time around
- people whose relatives and friends had suffered in the broken jaws of these structures
- lawyers like Graeme Pagan who, as Procurator Fiscal in OBan, had presided over earlier fatalities
- all of the local press
- countless letter writers who could not believe that evidence and obvious common sense could be so lightly set aside
- For Argyll
Sadly, there have been accidents at these fences in their current incarnation – including a particularly bad fatality on the A83 at Ardgartan on upper Loch Long in the Autumn of 2008. At this stage it is not known whether an inquest has yet been held in this case or, if so, what the pathologists’s conclusions were about the role of the barrier in the outcome.
In any case, it will be hard for the family of the dead man concerned to see Transport Scotland’s action taken so late, when it could have been effected so much earlier. Even worse is the possibility that between now and the removal of the fences there may be other accidents in which they may be thought to have inflicted yet more serious injuries and fatalities.
Transport Scotland should do what it takes to get all of these wooden barriers removed without delay. They are to be replaced by wire mesh fencing.
Mr Mather, an energetic campaigner on this issue himself, says: ‘This is an excellent example of a successful and measured campaign by members of the public who were genuinely concerned at the re-appearance of a form of wooden barrier similar to those which had been responsible for several fatal accidents around thirty years ago in Argyll. At that time it was only after a sustained campaign involving a great deal of public involvement that the roads authorities were persuaded to remove the wooden roadside barriers throughout Argyll.
‘When a similar type of barrier was recently erected at Cromalt, close to Inveraray and on the seaward side of the trunk road between Ardgartan and Arrochar, strong representations were made to the Trunk Road Authority. Among those most concerned were relatives of those who lost their lives in earlier accidents and their campaign was successfully co-ordinated by retired lawyer Graeme Pagan, who was Procurator Fiscal in Oban when the dangers of the original wooden barriers was first identified.
‘I was happy to be associated with the action to remove those new barriers and to help bring the previous history of the matter to the attention of the Minister and the Trunk Roads Authority.
‘I am relieved and encouraged at the success of this campaign. We are all rightly concerned when we see actions being taken that we perceive to be misguided or misinformed. It is good to see that such a campaign can bring forward the right result and I congratulate all those involved, both those who campaigned and the authorities who have responded, for their work on this’.
Update: The photograph above, by Rebecca Martin, was taken on 15th January and shows the Transport Scotland wooden barrier at Cromalt, south of Inveraray, with demolition already begun.
The cross pieces – which were largely responsible for the horrific injuries inflicted on people in cars crashing into the barriers – have been removed and removed so swiftly that the nails that held them to the uprights have been left bare ended. These are now a secondary danger and mainly to the pedestrians the barriers were said to have been constructed to protect.
Lazy scaremongering from George Lyon – must do better
For Argyll reports very rarely mention the party affiliation of any Scottish politician. This is a contribution to focusing on what really matters – the issues, the evidence, the decisions, the implementation and the results.
There is nothing so tired, so dispiriting and so empty-headed as politicians focused only on scoring party political points rather than doing their best for Scotland and for those who elected them to do just that.
There is nothing so dishonourable as politicians who don’t do their homework while comfortably trotting out wildly inaccurate statements for political benefit. And there is nothing so stupid as politicians who do this when the facts are in the public domain. This sort of thing is a fraud on constituents, on potential consituents and on voters.
One issue that has attracted a great deal of this behaviour is the Scottish Government’s proposal to lease 25% of Scotland’s commercial forests in order to raise money for measures to fight climate change.
Environment Minister, Michael Russell, has committed himself publicly, in writing and very specifically to copper-fastened reassurances that there will be no resulting compulsory redundancies for those working in our forests. He has also given these detailed reassurances directly to the key organisations concerned – like the Trade Unions, who have not since disputed or questioned them.
And he has said clearly that will be no diminution of the role, responsibilities and advisory capacity of Forestry Commission Scotland.
Yet far too many politicians simply take the cheap scaremongering route and do what George Lyon has now also done. The former Argyll and Bute MSP, now a prospective candidate for the ultimate gravy train of a seat in the European Parliament, has said, in starting his campaign: ‘Privatisation would be disastrous for Argyll’s forests and forest workers’.
In every respect this does not trouble itself with the documented facts and is a dilution of the currency of trust on which democracy depends. And it is irresponsible to frighten and destabilise people about the security of their jobs when no threat to them exists.
We pay our politicians to represent us. We expect them to work to be properly informed. We require them to tell us the truth. We do not expect them to see and treat us as simpletons and as pawns in their games – to be manipulated in their interests. We deserve better and we will get it if we start to vote on merit and on evidence than by tribal tradition.
Diary date – 20th January BBC2 at 8.00pm: Oz and James Drink to Britain
See it live, record it or use the BBC’s great iplayer – but do not miss this programme. It’s the third episode of Oz Clark’s and James May’s drinkfest odyssey through Britain and Ireland. In this one they do some blindfold whisky tasting, meet some controversial beer brewers in Edinburgh, deal with the breakdown of their un-trusty caravan – and end up in Islay.
Nuff said. You can guess a lot of what happens next – Islay being Islay and the proud possessor of some of the best known producers of a dram in the world.
But you can’t guess at all of it. Actually – you can if you’re as hooked on news as we are at For Argyll. And we did pretty well guess it – as Mark Reynier at Bruichladdich should be able to testify (and yes, the mad pair do visit that distillery).
To guess what happens you need to think ‘out of the bottle’ rather than ‘out of the box’ and you need to think propulsion rather than projectile… (the remnants of good taste prevent us from completing this phrase).
We’re not giving the game away – but news junkies and all Ileachs will be there already. The main thing is don’t miss the show and have more fun with Islay.
Argyll ferry disruptions: 15th January, 18.15 update
Today’s weather is causing serious disruption to ferry travel. The current situation is:
- Dunoon-Gourock: The M.V Alicat passenger only sailings from Gourock to Dunoon at 17.45 from Gourock and 18.15 from Dunoonare cancelled. The hourly vehicle service is running as timetabled.
- Oban-Coll-Tiree-Coll-Oban: Today’s ferry did not manage to berth at Coll and returned to Oban. The next sailing from Oban will be Friday 16th as follows: Dep Oban 06.00 Arr Coll 08.55; Dep Coll 09.05 Arr Tiree 10.05; Dep Tiree 10.20 Arr Barra 13.30; Dep Barra 13.45 Arr Tiree 16.55; Dep Tiree 17.10 Arr Oban 20.50.
- Oban-Castlebay/Lochboisdale: Today’s sailing at 15:30 is cancelled becuase of weather conditions. The next sailing from Oban to Barra only will be at 06:00 tomorrow ( Friday 16th January) at 16.01. This will sail via Coll & Tiree, arriving in Barra at 13:30. The ferry will then leave Barra at 13:45 and sail back via Tiree to Oban, arriving at 20:50. Times are of course, best guess in the circumstances. People wishing to travel from Barra tomorrow should be in Barra no later than 13:00.
- Oban-Colonsay-Oban: This service may be liable to disruption or cancellation.
- Kennacraig-Islay: The 17:00 sailing from Islay today will now be leaving from Port Askaig and not Port Ellen as timetabled. The 18:00 sailing tonight from Kennacraig will also operate to Port Askaig instead of Port Ellen. This then means thatt the 07:00 tomorrow (Friday 16th January) will depart from Port Askaig not Port Ellen as timetabled. NOTE: the 07.00 sailing from Port Askaig on Saturday 17th January has been cancelled for operational reasons.
- Fionnphort-Iona: This service has now been cancelled for the remainder of the day.
- Colintraive-Rhubodach: This service may suffer disruption/delays because of the weather.
- Oban-Lismore: This service is cancelled for today because of the weather.
Online 8 month PG Certificate course in screenwriting at Napier University
Of particualr interest to creatives living in more remote places like Argyll, Screen Academy Scotland, with the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh’s Napier University, is launching an online postgraduate certificate (PG Cert) course in screenwriting.
Starting in February 2009 it is designed particularly to be of use to people who don’t have the time or don’t want to undertake the full MA programme in Screenwriting.
Online delivery offers a degree (no pun intended) of flexibility particularly relevant for people who work full time or – as with Argyll – don’t live near Edinburgh.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Screenwriting is an 8-month course combining online lectures, tutorials, discussions and exercises with attendance at three intensive face-to-face workshops. It runs from 2nd February to 14th September 2009. It is divided into two terms and students will undertake three modules from Screen Academy Scotland’s highly-successful Masters degree (MA Screenwriting), specially re-designed for online delivery.
This could be a real opportunity to hone the necessary skills and develop a career as a screenwriter. As a special bonus, in 2009 all PG Cert students will be given a Free Student Delegate Pass to the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2009. This will be an unmissable chance to network with industry professionals and attend exclusive screenings, masterclasses and other exciting events.
You can get more information online or contact Programme Administrator, Anne Brown:
- email: a.brown2@napier.ac.uk
- Phone: 0131 455 2572
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Marks & Spencer store inspector gets the wrong island – and a dram
Today’s (15th January) Oban Times has a hilarious front page story on a hapless store inspector for Marks and Spencer who flew into Islay Airport en route to Blackrock to inspect the company store there in the tiny township on the shores of Lochindaal.
The Ileachs, choking back laughter when he asked his way to the store, did not prove particularly forthcoming and when rthe man phoned HQ for instructions, he discovered he should have been at Blackrock, outside Dublin – not in Islay but in Ireland.
OK. It was pretty embarrassing but Islay has its ways of dispensing with blushes – or replacing them with a flush of a different kind. The Oban Times reports that a visit to one of the island’s famous single malt whisky distilleries put a new cast on events.
And evidently Marks and Spencers’ online store locator responds to a search on ‘Blackrock’ with: ‘near Blackrock, Argyll and Bute, Isle of Islay’. So the inspector was a lot less daft than the company. And Ireland’s over crowded these days.
Question is: are paranormal investigators heavy coffee drinkers?
Research results just made public from Durham University have shown that people with a big coffee habit – more than seven cups a day – are three times more likely to hear a non-existent person’s voice and to see things that aren’t there. Some believe they see ghosts.
The heavy coffee drinkers monitored in the study reported experiences of hallucinations, hearing voices and sensing the presence of dead people.
But it may not all be directly down to the coffee. Evidently coffee increases stress levels and when stress hits a particular point the body releases cortisol. This is a hormone which is produced in greater quantities after drinking coffee. The additional cortisol may trigger hallucinations by impacting on brain activity involving the chemical dopamine – a message transmitter.
So maybe paranormal investigators are heavy coffee users to help them stay alert during the long hours on the watch at night that their work involves. And maybe the stimulant itself is creating some of the sounds, sights and experiences they record.
So when Inveraray Jail ghosts its next spook-hunt – very soon – it would be interesting to see if the very psychically active ‘new;’ building was any quieter if the experts laid off the black stuff for a couple of days beforehand.
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