The organisers of the planned march from Dunoon to Innellan tomorrow (30th January) to demonstrate support for the Save Castle Toward campaign, have asked us to post a public information announcement that the march has had to be called off.
They are asking people instead to drive or take the bus to Innellan for the public meeting to be held there at 3.00pm in the Village Hall. Everyone with an interest in Castle Toward and its role as an outdoor education centre for Argyll and beyond is wanted and welcome.
We are told that the reason for the late cancellation of the march is that there was not enough time for the necessary permission procedures to be completed, including a safety audit and that, although Argyll and Bute Council staff did everything they could at short notice, it couldn’t be done.
It is a matter of regret to me that forargyll have refused to allow comments on the page devoted to the Castle Toward meeting in Innellan.
Linda Henderson has clearly had access to the taped recording of the meeting. I have only my notes taken at the time. Ms Henderson, a newcomer to the scene, was confused as to the identities of the original Castle Trust and the later Castle Toward Trust, established in 2005. Her argument based on this point is therefore invalid.
Actual Reality brings an income of approximately £1M per year to Cowal. Ms Henderson’s figure of £300,000 profit per year is fantasy. If it had made this amount of profit per annum it could have bought the entire estate at the Council’s own asking price. Actual Reality is anot for profit company. It was set up by teachers to ensure the future of outdoor education in the westb of Scotland. Surpluses (not profits) are spent on maintaining the fabric and equipment of the two centres. A large part of this surplus is spent locally, as many suppliers and tradesmen from Dunoon and Innellan will testify. The staff live locally and shop locally.
The Treaty of Kilmory appears to have been a defining moment. The Council have announced the sale of Castle on so many occasions it was becoming a bit of a fixture, like a Rolling Stones’ farewell tour. The meeting, which took place after the Innellan meeting was announced, was clearly convened in order for technical experts from both sides to address the issues raised in the safety reports.
Actual Reality are not going to spend the £0.5M to £1M figures quoted by Councillor Walsh in his press release of the 18th December: they do not have it. Nevertheless, they say that they will reopen the Castle onthe 1st of March and the Council have agreed that, subject to the agreed programme of works being completed, this will be accepted. Ms Henderson should understand that, had the Council failed to reach an agreement with Actual Reality on the 22nd of January, the mood at the Innellan meeting would have been very hostile indeed.
Baillie Dr Christopher Mason is a man of the highest integrity: he describes himself as a “Cooncillor”. Ms Henderson has had some amusement in describing him as a “Blofeld” character but she should be assured that he has acted throughout solely in the interests of the young people who attend Castle Toward and Ardentinny. He himself will probably be highly amused at this new moniker.
Dr Mason was dismissive of the new suggestion of a community buy-out because he has vast experience of local government and knows the pitfalls of such an approach. Remember that Actual Reality was originally to be offered a lease on Castle Toward and Ardentinny, a lease that has never materialised. Actual Reality have grown weary of the Council’s repeated announcements to sell and the Council have clearly never been made a realistic offer. Actual Reality recognise that even a lease now would limit what can be done to preserve the Castle. This is why a decision has been taken to buy the Castle and as much of the Estate as possible. The amount of the Estate that can be purchased will depend on how much Actual Reality can offer the Council. In the end it all comes down to money.
By all means forargyll is to be thanked for taking this level of interest in the future of Castle Toward. It is my hope that Ms Henderson will take her investigations further and actually talk to the representatives of Actual Reality and the Council about how matters have reached this stage. And allow comments on her report of the Innellan meeting.
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For John Jamieson: We are utterly confused by your allegation that we have not allowed comments on this or any story.
In our entire online life, apart from the usual scam commercial and pornographic infiltration attempts, we have blocked only two comments. The decision in each case was nothing to do with self-protection. Neither was critical of us in any way. One was racist. One was libellous. Both were some time ago.
It would be helpful to know, John, what has made you think we have been blocking comments. Maybe we should point out that no comment goes straight online. It waits for moderation – which was how we trapped the racism and libel.
Comments are usually cleared to publish quite quickly but we are a small team and there are times when there may be some delay. But we can give you an absolute assurance that we have not blocked any comments on anything to do with Castle Toward.
We should point out that we said in the article that it might well be that Castle Toward Trust never had or no longer had management authority. We also said that if this were the case, it was hard to understand why Dr Mason in particular, as a Director of the Castle Toward Trust, was not in a position to clarify that at the meeting, when asked.
And we have no problem with alternative or contrary views, nor with criticism. We hand it out and we can take it.
There are very real issues in this matter and robust debate is very much needed.
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For John Jamieson: John – we are utterly perplexed by your allegation that we have refused to allow comments on this or any article we have published. It would hekp to know what has led you to this conclusion.
We can give you an absolute assurance that we have blocked no comment on any article on the Castle Toward situation.
Throughout our online life, apart from the usual scam commercial and pornographic infiltration attempts, we have blocked only two comments. One was racist. One was libellous. Neither related to us. Both were clearly disgraceful personal score-settlings.
It might help to describe the back office procedure in relation to comments posted by readers. Nothing goes straight online. Each comment awaits moderation. That is how we trapped the racism and the libel. Normally there is little delay before comments are approved. But we are a small team and there are times when there is a delay before comments appear. But, with the exceptions noted above, they do appear.
We have no problem with alternative or contrary views, nor with criticism, We hand it out and we can take it. There are very real issues here that need robust debate.
With regard to the status of the Castle Toward Trust, we said in the article that
it might well be that the Trust had never had or no longer had management responsibilities. We also said that in this case it was odd that Dr Mason was unable, when asked at the meeting, to clarify the situation. As a Director of the Castle Toward Trust he was in a better position than anyone present to know the facts.
Two facts are germane to your comments:
At the outset, after the closure of the facility we emailed Peter Wilson of Actual Reality directly and quickly to ask for information on what was happening. We received no reply then or since.
We have had endless correspondence with the Council on just about every aspect of this matter. We appear to be the only people who pressed hard enough to get sight of the original deed of sale, key points of which we have made public in the article in question.
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He is correct. Your article at http://forargyll.com/2010/02/castle-toward-meeting-stand-up-or-hold-up/ says “Closed for Comment”
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For Hughie and John Jamieson: Yes, you are correct – and it is a technical glitch of some kind that I am pursuing now. I have just seen John Jamieson’s comment and Newsroom’s response and checked the situation out for myself.
One of us – probably me – has hit a key that must have changed the default that automatically adds an open Comments box to each article. This will be sorted out as soon as I get the help from our Internet Services Director that I need too often. Take it from me, comments are what makes online journalism both democratic and communally informative. We have not the remotest interest in silencing anyone – bar the sort of things Newsroom has instanced already.
By the way – I’ve not had access to the recording of the event (but the assumption is flattering). I rely on good notes. And I am a determined outsider in all possible contexts. It’s the only place to be to attempt to maintain some sort of independent perspective.
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For John Jamieson and Hughie: Sincere apologies for the hitch – now sorted. Comments box now restored on the article on the Castle Toward meeting.
John – would you like us to paste your comment across to the article it relates to?
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I must commend your last article on Castle Toward, and feel that it highlighted once again how not content at hushing councillors, how Argyll & Bute Council are now trying to hush Actual Reality. Transparency please this is a matter of public intrest not actual reality’s interest.
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No problem to me. Just pointing out – didn’t think for a minute it was intentional.
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Thanks to Hughie and Lynda for your responses. I read your article just before setting off on a long journey and was disappointed at being unable to try to set the record straight before heading off. Apology accepted. I hope you will accept mine.
I think that it would be a great service to your readers to arrange to meet Douglas Hendry and his colleagues at A&BC and Peter Wilson and colleagues at Actual Reality and report your findings. I am currently in furrin pairts (as Para Handy would no doubt have put it) but I am following developments with interest.
With best wishes,
John.
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