Comment posted Argyll and Bute Council ‘Martha’s Blog’ press release under scrutiny by Robert Wakeham.
Even this analysis by Adrian Short is careless with the facts – translating the banning of the photographs as the banning of the blog, and this seems to have been quite a widespread mistake in media reports. Which just goes to show that even the experts can stumble over their words.
Recent comments by Robert Wakeham
- McGrigor supports small scale hydro schemes but is concerned about lack of grid connectivity
If not ‘bitter’, then how about ‘negative’, ‘petty’, or just plain miserable?
Effective ways of providing energy for this country is an increasingly fraught subject, with government commitment to ‘green’ power leading to the perception that our politicians are swimming with sharks, and a proliferation of wind farms that are good for some sectors of the local economy but which are a major cause of price inflation.
And the Kintyre / Arran power emergency this spring served to highlight the fact that large scale wind generated electricity can be likened to a rough single malt – no use unless it’s blended with other spirit to make it palatable.
I live in hope that SSE’s Sound of Islay tidestream power project will prove more user-friendly – as are the hydro power plants described by Jamie McGrigor, as far as I can gather.
Here in mid Argyll we’re being shown the next windfarm proposal – 25 turbines for Electricite de France above Brenfield, which would form a backdrop to Ardrishaig, and would be so close to the recently unveiled proposals by E.ON for up to 24 turbines above Inverneill as to be semi-detached.
That’s up to 49MW plus up to 90MW, that would all presumably have to be ‘blended’ with power from elsewhere to make it digestible, and if anyone thought that ‘fast breeder’ only referred to a type of nuclear reactor, just look at the emerging cluster of wind farms south of Ardrishaig. - Argyll Flyer spotted going into Ardmaleish yard on Bute this afternoon
Doesn’t the SPTE have a remit to co-ordinate public transport provision here? – maybe I’m imagining it, or maybe they’re just pretending, or maybe they’re only really interested in Strathclyde bus services and the Glasgow subway (on the basis that only a tiny proportion of voters use the Gourock ferries, and politics is all) - 31 hour shout Tobermory Lifeboat’s longest ever, ending in joint operation with Oban lifeboat
The Oban Times reported on 6th June on the MAIB report on a similar incident last July when a small container ship rammed the Isle of Bute, and apparently legal action is ongoing. - Refloated cargo ship MV Fri Ocean escorted to Lynn of Lorne – and on into Oban
Not being a mariner, I wonder why – in this day and age of almost universal use of radar (and GPS?) for navigation – ships don’t seem to be equipped with a proximity alarm, a bloody great klaxon fit to waken the dead, that is triggered if the boat closes with an identifiable hazard.
It would have to be capable of deactivation in harbour areas and, eg, places like the Corran Narrows – but would surely be invaluable, especially at night.
Maybe it would be seen as a dangerous threat to the need for proper watch keeping. - Auchindrain in crisis: facing paying off its two permanent staff
Considering how all the wind farm developers are so keen (and can clearly afford) to provide substantial funding to help local community ventures, this is surely a prime example of an exceptionally good local cause with national significance.
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Even this analysis by Adrian Short is careless with the facts – translating the banning of the photographs as the banning of the blog, and this seems to have been quite a widespread mistake in media reports. Which just goes to show that even the experts can stumble over their words.
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Absolutely. Logic and reason aren’t necessarily the answer to everything but they’re the best possible lender of last resort.
We were careful to say that the council ‘switches off her dinnercam’. That wasn’t banning her blog – a matter beyond their control.
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Francis Horner raises a good point in the blog. If the three press officers recently suspended, sacked (sorry, resigned) didn’t write the offending press release, then who did? The chances are it was some inexperienced junior member of staff who’s been drafted into cover & pressured into producing a rushed effort by senior management on the verge of panic. A lot has been wrtten about Roddy McCuish’s role in all this but he shouldn’t have needed to go anywhere near it. It should have been dealt with by the senior Council management & they obviously weren’t up to the task. The new Council Leader must have been absolutely livid & rightly so. If this was old-style Central Government then somebody would soon be “off to spend more time with their family”. Choice of two I reckon.
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I picture the scene in Sally’s office last friday morning …..
Sally and Cleland see the proverbial s**t hitting the fan – the internet, twitter, radio, tv etc etc
Sally says “Cleland – what will we do – this is HUGE, where are our Comms team when we need them? We are in a big big hole here”
Cleland nonchalantly says “where’s the spade ? I’ll get us out of this hole”
Sally says ” Be careful Cleland – don’t say anything stupid and make it worse than it is!”
Cleland departing office, spade over shoulder “Trust me Sally, trust me”
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Calling Roddy McCuish ….. could you lift the ban on Mr. CJ Raeburn of 2 Queen Street Helensburgh G84 9QQ, from communicating with the council any further about the fact that developments surrounding the above property have resulted in the destruction of the living space and Mr. Cleland Sneddon’s notice served under the housing act is yet again another BOGUS notice, the second BOGUS notice received referencing demolition of the above property?
Mr. Raeburn have been banned as part of a Stage 2 Complaint, inspite of the fact that MSP Jackie Baillie had stated in writing that the council does have further involvement regarding the destruction via flooding and perpetual sewage leaks which have been allowed to be managed by the neighbors (The Non-Insured!) to despose effluent and storm drainage in order to do a cozy little favour for the public services namely: Scottish Water and Argyll & Bute Council …. Try lifting this ban!
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