Comments on: Save Our Pool: the day Mid Argyll became a community http://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/ Fri, 25 May 2012 15:41:57 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Spikehttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-24531 Spike Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:15:14 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-24531 O Dear, it looks like someone's been let out of Lochgilphead for the Holiday. O Dear, it looks like someone’s been let out of Lochgilphead for the Holiday.

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]]> By: kintyre1http://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-24525 kintyre1 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:03:14 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-24525 the one where the hopeless David Kerr was slaughtered by Labour's Willie Bain the one where the hopeless David Kerr was slaughtered by Labour’s Willie Bain

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]]> By: David McEwan Hillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-24457 David McEwan Hill Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:49:11 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-24457 Was that the by-election at which 40,000 electors stayed at home? Was that the by-election at which 40,000 electors stayed at home?

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]]> By: kintyre1http://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-24456 kintyre1 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:39:12 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-24456 you failed to mention your spectacular failure in the Glasgow North East by-election you failed to mention your spectacular failure in the Glasgow North East by-election

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]]> By: David McEwan Hillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-24431 David McEwan Hill Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:53:27 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-24431 We are in government I note and remain ahead in the opinion polls and have achieved a continuing 5% swing away from Labour across the whole of 2009 and a swing against the the Tories and the LibDems as well. I much appreciate kintyre1's drivel interjections which gives us a regular opportunity to remind folk how well we are doing against all the odds. We are in government I note and remain ahead in the opinion polls and have achieved a continuing 5% swing away from Labour across the whole of 2009 and a swing against the the Tories and the LibDems as well.

I much appreciate kintyre1′s drivel interjections which gives us a regular opportunity to remind folk how well we are doing against all the odds.

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]]> By: kintyre1http://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-24410 kintyre1 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:24:28 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-24410 We might as well have Laurel + Hardie for all the use the nats are We might as well have Laurel + Hardie for all the use the nats are

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]]> By: David McEwan Hillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-24337 David McEwan Hill Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:33:51 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-24337 That's the stuff, kintyre1. Keep mentioning the names. Mather,MacKenzie; Mather,MacKenzie; Mather, MacKenzie............ The team That’s the stuff, kintyre1.
Keep mentioning the names.
Mather,MacKenzie; Mather,MacKenzie; Mather, MacKenzie…………
The team

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]]> By: kintyre1http://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-24331 kintyre1 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:54:12 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-24331 the invisible men - mather + mckenzie the invisible men – mather + mckenzie

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]]> By: David McEwan Hillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-23671 David McEwan Hill Fri, 25 Dec 2009 20:26:17 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-23671 The impressive turnout in support of the Mid Argyll pool leaves nobody in any doubt how serious this issue is in Mid Argyll. Hopefully it shows the way, and other communities in Argyll and Bute can take a lesson from this. One of my enduring reflections since I came back to Argyll 25 years ago has been on the compliant and deferential nature of the electorate. Having lived, worked and electioneered in Glasgow and darkest Lanarkshire I have watched A&B council on very numerous occasions take the sort of actions in defiance of local opinion which would have provoked public disorder had a similar cavalier disregard of public opinion been attempted in central Scotland. Castle Toward anyone? Encouraged as I am I remain puzzled however about certain aspects of the subsequent coverage of the march. This is an issue that centres on the relationship between Argyll and Bute council and the body which runs the pool. It is entirely appropriate that it should be made very clear to Argyll and Bute Council that the people of mid Argyll expect Argyll and Bute Council to step forward and provide the sort of support that makes the Mid Argyll pool a viable concern. If this entails helping the body which runs the pool in a restructuring exercise so be it. If this also entails the people running the pool taking advice, some of perhaps from the council, so be it. There are a number of other bodies with interest and useful potential input to the viability of this pool. This potential must be optimised. All this requires all parties round a table, laying aside tensions which have been engendered as this issue has unfolded, and seeking a permanent solution in the best interest of the community. This is the only sensible and productive way forward. Then, of course, there is political posturing. I see no evidence as yet provided of any constructive input from the political figures who gladly seized the opportunity provided them to address the crowd and have their photos taken last Saturday. I make no complaint. This is what minor politicians in opposition do. What one expects subsequently is a reasonable and balanced reaction from commentators. In the absence of any evidence as yet of any activity apart from marching about and having their photos taken I think we can take it that messrs MacGrigor, Mulvaney and Reid have done nothing except express support for the pool. They would indeed be very foolish if they did otherwise. And I’m sure their support is very welcome. If however they combined to provide a high profile for each other on the basis of no more than this they are indulging in political posturing. If they had in mind an intention to manufacture from this an attack on Argyll and Bute’s hard working MSP I would have expected commentators, For Argyll among, to have adopted a more scrupulous and rather more enquiring attitude to this. The article which precedes these posts reads as a clumsy, pedestrian and transparent attack on Jim Mather MSP who to my very certain knowledge does not indulge ever in political posturing. He does the work. In fact in my fifty years in politics I have never met a harder working or more productive political figure. He has met the principals in this affair and has been involved in efforts to bring all sides together on this issue and continues to provide the sort of leadership that will allow this to happen in the New Year. That his efforts on this appear to have evaded For Argyll is strange indeed. Willie McEwan has said “naïve”. Hmm. I wonder. The impressive turnout in support of the Mid Argyll pool leaves nobody in any doubt how serious this issue is in Mid Argyll.
Hopefully it shows the way, and other communities in Argyll and Bute can take a lesson from this.
One of my enduring reflections since I came back to Argyll 25 years ago has been on the compliant and deferential nature of the electorate. Having lived, worked and electioneered in Glasgow and darkest Lanarkshire I have watched A&B council on very numerous occasions take the sort of actions in defiance of local opinion which would have provoked public disorder had a similar cavalier disregard of public opinion been attempted in central Scotland.
Castle Toward anyone?
Encouraged as I am I remain puzzled however about certain aspects of the subsequent coverage of the march.
This is an issue that centres on the relationship between Argyll and Bute council and the body which runs the pool.
It is entirely appropriate that it should be made very clear to Argyll and Bute Council that the people of mid Argyll expect Argyll and Bute Council to step forward and provide the sort of support that makes the Mid Argyll pool a viable concern.
If this entails helping the body which runs the pool in a restructuring exercise so be it.
If this also entails the people running the pool taking advice, some of perhaps from the council, so be it.
There are a number of other bodies with interest and useful potential input to the viability of this pool. This potential must be optimised.
All this requires all parties round a table, laying aside tensions which have been engendered as this issue has unfolded, and seeking a permanent solution in the best interest of the community.
This is the only sensible and productive way forward.
Then, of course, there is political posturing.
I see no evidence as yet provided of any constructive input from the political figures who gladly seized the opportunity provided them to address the crowd and have their photos taken last Saturday. I make no complaint. This is what minor politicians in opposition do. What one expects subsequently is a reasonable and balanced reaction from commentators.
In the absence of any evidence as yet of any activity apart from marching about and having their photos taken I think we can take it that messrs MacGrigor, Mulvaney and Reid have done nothing except express support for the pool. They would indeed be very foolish if they did otherwise. And I’m sure their support is very welcome.
If however they combined to provide a high profile for each other on the basis of no more than this they are indulging in political posturing. If they had in mind an intention to manufacture from this an attack on Argyll and Bute’s hard working MSP I would have expected commentators, For Argyll among, to have adopted a more scrupulous and rather more enquiring attitude to this.
The article which precedes these posts reads as a clumsy, pedestrian and transparent attack on Jim Mather MSP who to my very certain knowledge does not indulge ever in political posturing. He does the work. In fact in my fifty years in politics I have never met a harder working or more productive political figure. He has met the principals in this affair and has been involved in efforts to bring all sides together on this issue and continues to provide the sort of leadership that will allow this to happen in the New Year.
That his efforts on this appear to have evaded For Argyll is strange indeed.
Willie McEwan has said “naïve”. Hmm. I wonder.

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]]> By: David McEwan Hillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-23361 David McEwan Hill Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:32:19 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-23361 I note there is to date from Hiyak no list of any actual activity by McGrigor, Mulvaney and Reid towards saving the pool (as requested by Willie). Has the object of this whole exercise been achieved by giving these three gentlemen huge coverage and big photos in For Argyll. I note there is to date from Hiyak no list of any actual activity by McGrigor, Mulvaney and Reid towards saving the pool (as requested by Willie).

Has the object of this whole exercise been achieved by giving these three gentlemen huge coverage and big photos in For Argyll.

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]]> By: Willie McEwanhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-23218 Willie McEwan Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:13:06 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-23218 As I suggested last night I have contacted Jim Mather's office. I am assured that there was a useful meeting some weeks ago and there was a subsequent attempt to get all parties together again recently but this couldn't be achieved in the short time scale available and this meeting will be convened early in the New Year. It will be of all interested parties. The key player here is Argyll and Bute Council. I hardly think serious politicians with real responsibilities are likely to expect to get all parties round the table if they take up partisan positions. I'm sure the people that run the pool are aware they need Argyll and Bute Council and goodwill all round. As I suggested last night I have contacted Jim Mather’s office. I am assured that there was a useful meeting some weeks ago and there was a subsequent attempt to get all parties together again recently but this couldn’t be achieved in the short time scale available and this meeting will be convened early in the New Year. It will be of all interested parties.
The key player here is Argyll and Bute Council.
I hardly think serious politicians with real responsibilities are likely to expect to get all parties round the table if they take up partisan positions.
I’m sure the people that run the pool are aware they need Argyll and Bute Council and goodwill all round.

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]]> By: Willie McEwanhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-23186 Willie McEwan Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:16:34 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-23186 Hiyak This is nonsense. Let me put the facts again. This is an Argyll and Bute Council problem. However Jim Mather MSP has already come to Lochgilphead to meet with the people involved with running the baths and others with a interest in this matter. He has stated that he is trying to bring everybody together on this issue. I will check with his office in Oban to find out more but I think he will be meeting them all again. You could find out the facts in the same way if you have any honest intent. Mike MacKenzie also came to Lochgilphead to meet the people at the baths. Can you give us details of the actual work that Alan Reid, Jamie MacGrigor or Cll Mulvaney have done on this apart from marching about on Saturday and getting their photos taken? There are a few people pretty naive on this matter it would appear. I have great respect for those of the public who turned out to march but when it comes down to it the actual work of getting all the parties together and getting a solution is exactly what I would like my MSP to be doing and it is a lilttle bit suspicious that the work going on behind the scenes was totally ignored. More anon when I have more information. Hiyak

This is nonsense. Let me put the facts again.
This is an Argyll and Bute Council problem.
However Jim Mather MSP has already come to Lochgilphead to meet with the people involved with running the baths and others with a interest in this matter. He has stated that he is trying to bring everybody together on this issue. I will check with his office in Oban to find out more but I think he will be meeting them all again. You could find out the facts in the same way if you have any honest intent.
Mike MacKenzie also came to Lochgilphead to meet the people at the baths.

Can you give us details of the actual work that Alan Reid, Jamie MacGrigor or Cll Mulvaney have done on this apart from marching about on Saturday and getting their photos taken?

There are a few people pretty naive on this matter it would appear.

I have great respect for those of the public who turned out to march but when it comes down to it the actual work of getting all the parties together and getting a solution is exactly what I would like my MSP to be doing and it is a lilttle bit suspicious that the work going on behind the scenes was totally ignored.
More anon when I have more information.

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]]> By: hiyakhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-23145 hiyak Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:59:42 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-23145 If For Argyll's naive, then I'm naive as well. Jim Mather is our MSP - Argyll and Bute's MSP. Mid Argyll's MSP. We voted him in to work for us. The Council's position on the Mid Argyll Swimming Pool is just wrong, obviously wrong and has been wrong for years. It has to be put right properly. I want to see my MSP alongside us. It shows respect. Alex Salmond is First Minister but he stood with the Johnny Walker employees at Kilmarnock. Of course he was having behind the scenes meetings as well - but he came and stood in public with the people who needed support. Alan Reid, Jamie McGrigor and Gary Mulvaney knew how important it was just to be there on Saturday and to be seen to be there. We appreciated that. We did well on Saturday, They were part of that. They did well on Saturday. But where was our own MSP? Maybe we're better off with an MSP who's in opposition, who won't be afraid to challenge a bad decision by a Council his party's part of leading? Whatever happens in the election overall, the Lib Dems are bound to be in opposition. Food for thought. Alan Reid's a worker. I'm not sure he gets anything done - but who does? He's boring and I wish he'd stop doing the blame game but at least he's there and he makes the effort to be there. I'm about at the point where I'll settle for that. I wanted what the SNP promised - a party that was different, that put people and issues first. I'm not seeing it happen, What I'm seeing is the same old party political bunker mentality and as usual the people and the issues are bottom of the heap. If For Argyll’s naive, then I’m naive as well. Jim Mather is our MSP – Argyll and Bute’s MSP. Mid Argyll’s MSP. We voted him in to work for us. The Council’s position on the Mid Argyll Swimming Pool is just wrong, obviously wrong and has been wrong for years. It has to be put right properly. I want to see my MSP alongside us. It shows respect.

Alex Salmond is First Minister but he stood with the Johnny Walker employees at Kilmarnock. Of course he was having behind the scenes meetings as well – but he came and stood in public with the people who needed support.

Alan Reid, Jamie McGrigor and Gary Mulvaney knew how important it was just to be there on Saturday and to be seen to be there. We appreciated that. We did well on Saturday, They were part of that. They did well on Saturday. But where was our own MSP?

Maybe we’re better off with an MSP who’s in opposition, who won’t be afraid to challenge a bad decision by a Council his party’s part of leading?

Whatever happens in the election overall, the Lib Dems are bound to be in opposition. Food for thought. Alan Reid’s a worker. I’m not sure he gets anything done – but who does? He’s boring and I wish he’d stop doing the blame game but at least he’s there and he makes the effort to be there. I’m about at the point where I’ll settle for that.

I wanted what the SNP promised – a party that was different, that put people and issues first. I’m not seeing it happen, What I’m seeing is the same old party political bunker mentality and as usual the people and the issues are bottom of the heap.

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]]> By: David McEwan Hillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-23055 David McEwan Hill Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:59:41 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-23055 This is indeed a problem for Argyll and Bute Council to deal with. There is of course a bidding contest going on all the time across Argyll and Bute for funding and the areas with the best and most determined councillors will probably get the best funding deals. Were the Mid Argyll councillors prominent on the march? Messrs Reid, Mulvanney and MacGrigor were out making political capital as they do. It would be interesting to know what else they have done. This is indeed a problem for Argyll and Bute Council to deal with.
There is of course a bidding contest going on all the time across Argyll and Bute for funding and the areas with the best and most determined councillors will probably get the best funding deals.
Were the Mid Argyll councillors prominent on the march?
Messrs Reid, Mulvanney and MacGrigor were out making political capital as they do.
It would be interesting to know what else they have done.

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]]> By: Willie McEwanhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-23041 Willie McEwan Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:05:22 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-23041 I seem to remember a report in the papers that both Jim Mather MSP and Mike McKenzie had both travelled without fanfare to Lochgilphead to meet with those concerned with running the Mid Argyll Pool. The reports on that were that they were attempting to bring all sides together and were working on providing advice on a constructive way forward. Perhaps For Argyll doesn't read the local papers. It should. With all due respect it is dead easy for political hopefuls to march about on demonstrations. particularly on issues on which they have no power or no influence. It is often the case that that is all they have done on any issue. Does For Argyll have any information that would provide evidence to the contrary on this particular issue? It is much harder to do the actual work. The For Argyll article above is seriously naive. Disappointing. Tony Gill above has the right idea. This is a problem caused by Argyll and Bute Council and it reflects very badly on the three councillors elected for the Mid Argyll Ward. Will For Argyll be giving an appraisal on their contributions? I seem to remember a report in the papers that both Jim Mather MSP and Mike McKenzie had both travelled without fanfare to Lochgilphead to meet with those concerned with running the Mid Argyll Pool. The reports on that were that they were attempting to bring all sides together and were working on providing advice on a constructive way forward.
Perhaps For Argyll doesn’t read the local papers. It should.
With all due respect it is dead easy for political hopefuls to march about on demonstrations. particularly on issues on which they have no power or no influence. It is often the case that that is all they have done on any issue. Does For Argyll have any information that would provide evidence to the contrary on this particular issue?
It is much harder to do the actual work.
The For Argyll article above is seriously naive. Disappointing.

Tony Gill above has the right idea. This is a problem caused by Argyll and Bute Council and it reflects very badly on the three councillors elected for the Mid Argyll Ward. Will For Argyll be giving an appraisal on their contributions?

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]]> By: Tony Gillhttp://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-22982 Tony Gill Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:57:52 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-22982 A really heartening event and I'm pleased to see that several of my neighbours were there in support. Surely, a 'democratically elected' council cannot help but take notice of such solid support. The disparities of funding between the Argyll pools beggars belief. The fact that the ruling junta of the council are quite willing to let our pool dry up surely shows how little they take the views of the electorate into account. Why should they? After all they are, apparently, omnipotent. Several press reports have mentioned the money given to other pools. There is obviously enough money to go round. Redistribute it. It may be, and I hope it's so, that the overwhelming support for the pool moves those members of the council's leading cabal to offer just a little more assistance for it, a few crumbs for the masses to keep them sweet. Big fish in little ponds tend to feel secure enough to offer such charity. They know how short is the memory of the minnows. Do not be fooled. Take note of the names of this elite bunch. Remember them, and at the next electoral opportunity do as Dougie Philand has so bravely done, and turn your back on them. Just vote for any other candidate - it doesn't matter who - and let them rue the days they spent ignoring the needs and the will of the people. A really heartening event and I’m pleased to see that several of my neighbours were there in support. Surely, a ‘democratically elected’ council cannot help but take notice of such solid support.

The disparities of funding between the Argyll pools beggars belief. The fact that the ruling junta of the council are quite willing to let our pool dry up surely shows how little they take the views of the electorate into account. Why should they? After all they are, apparently, omnipotent. Several press reports have mentioned the money given to other pools. There is obviously enough money to go round. Redistribute it.

It may be, and I hope it’s so, that the overwhelming support for the pool moves those members of the council’s leading cabal to offer just a little more assistance for it, a few crumbs for the masses to keep them sweet. Big fish in little ponds tend to feel secure enough to offer such charity. They know how short is the memory of the minnows.

Do not be fooled. Take note of the names of this elite bunch. Remember them, and at the next electoral opportunity do as Dougie Philand has so bravely done, and turn your back on them. Just vote for any other candidate – it doesn’t matter who – and let them rue the days they spent ignoring the needs and the will of the people.

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]]> By: ForArgyll (ForArgyll « Argyll News: Save Our Pool: the day Mid Argyll became a community :... « Chat Catcher)http://forargyll.com/2009/12/save-our-pool-the-day-mid-argyll-became-a-community/#comment-22941 ForArgyll (ForArgyll « Argyll News: Save Our Pool: the day Mid Argyll became a community :... « Chat Catcher) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:23:46 +0000 http://forargyll.com/?p=18494#comment-22941 [...] [link to post] > Save Our Pool: the day Mid Argyll became a [...] [...] [link to post] > Save Our Pool: the day Mid Argyll became a [...]

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