Public meeting on Council plans to sell Castle Toward

There is a public meeting at Innellan Village Hall on 13th January at 7.30pm to explore reactions to the current plans of Argyll and Bute Council to divest itself of its responsibilities and sell Castle Toward and its extensive grounds.

The probability is that the property would be sold to a private developer and that Argyll wold lose its sole outdoor education centre.

A public meeting needs a minimum of 20 to require the Council to address an issue. As Argyll is beginning to realise at long last, the only effective objection is involvement and direct action. The public sector is accustomed and skilled in ignoring the wishes – even the interests, of its constituents.

It takes effort to remind public sector bodies of thier core responsibilities and their true masters.

This is a complex issue but every aspect of its complexity makes it clear that this facility must remain in protected ownership and operate as the outdoor education centre for which it was originally given. Issues include:

• the wonderful resources of this property in buildings, land, location and cultural heritage – all supportive of a rich range of outdoor education for body and mind
• the life enhancing provision for Argyll’s young people that such a place can provide – in a context where there are slender resources for Argyll’s young folk and the drive is to make their lives hear consciously worthwhile
• the need in Argyll to have a place where approaches to outdoor activities of all kinds – and associated skills like project planning, risk assessment, teamwork and leadership – are developed to enable young people to take safe, knowledgeable and experienced advantage of the rich outdoor resources of land and water that Argyll offers like no other
• the requirement of fidelity – legal and moral – to the intentions of the donor of the Castle and its lands. (We have asked but have not yet obtained information on the terms of the original deed of gift.)
• the Lamont history of the place, a central part of Argyll’s cultural and clan history

The sole element of the case which says differently to the points above is convenience to the Council. This should never be an issue in such situations. Councillors are elected to solve problems in the interests of their constituents. Council staff are employed to assist in this process.

Let’s see an energetic investigation of the ‘how tos’ rather than the ‘how not tos’. Of course this can be done if the will is there and if the will can be made to muster.

There’s no way back once this facility is gone. There’s no second chance.

We will betray future generations of Argyll’s young people if – Council and constituents together – we let this wonderful community asset go for lack of will to mobilise to protect and develop its capacities.

Anyone who is concerned about this situation for any of a wide variety of reasons, needs to be at the meeting in Innellan Village Hall on Wednesday night (13th January) at 7.30pm and needs to make their voice heard there.

Elizabeth Carey, who is organising the meeting, makes the point that: ‘Considering the whole ethos of community involvement in the Community Planning Partnership it is important for objectors to be present to make their views heard’.

Even if you cannot be there – and all effort should be made as presence is the most powerful statement you can make – contact Elizabeth Carey  (email: elizabeth@carey13.plus.com ) to let her know your feelings. This will count towards the number of people whose collective  concerns the Council must address.