Comment posted Transport Scotland non ‘economic impact analysis’ of 2007 A83 landslide by newsroom.
Ah – a van delivery via Cowal would not have attracted the publicity the arrival of the seaplane at Inveraray did.
We’d hoped to make clear that The George was saying as loudly as possible ‘Look what the loss of this road access is doing to businesses here. We can’t fulfil our obligations to customers.’
The national media paid swift attention but not, apparently, Transport Scotland who conveniently ignored the impacts on businesses in this non-study.
Recent comments by newsroom
- Minutes of today’s meeting of ‘Concerned Councillors’ Group
The information is not unconfirmed. It is utterly authentic.
The venue was in Lochgilphead and yes, we admit to being more concerned with the content that the venue.
This does not mean that you are wrong – and there is indeed an additional interest in the session being held outside Kilmory. - Minutes of today’s meeting of ‘Concerned Councillors’ Group
Duplicate salaries would not be possible within the rules.
This would be a matter of sharing the leader’s salary three ways for the duration of the triumvirate. - NOW – 21.00: BBC 2′s ‘Town’ with Nicholas Crane visits Oban
Wasn’t it fantastic – history – and with Catherine Gillies at Dunollie as mercifuly crisp as a brandy snap; the entrepreneurial spirit; the landscape; the seascapes; the island connections; the uniquely beautiful waterfront location that actually addresses its waterfront; the thrilling, mad and testosterone-packed outdoor activities born from the natural resources of a place like this; the masculine industry at Glensanda; the great food; the great music….
Now it all has to be made to be true all of the time.
There was that honest and fundamentally worrying glance at the shops for sale and to let, the shabby properties… and we all know there could have been more of this.
But this programme reminded us all of the core value to Argyll of the unique asset of Oban.
The warmth of the programme should not make us complacent that all is well with Oban – but absolutely determined to get it up to speed and keep it developing. - Minutes of today’s meeting of ‘Concerned Councillors’ Group
The SNP group are clearly unable to progress what they had already agreed at the earlier meeting on 16th May. All of them seem to be totally unable to agree to anything. “Impotent’ gets nowhere near the reality.
The paralysis bears witness to the situation we have already published – that the SNP party now requires its councillors to submit their intentions in advance for signing off [or not] by either the local MSP or an NEC member – and the SNP Constituency Association Convener.
The minutes also bear witness to what we said this morning – that they were squabbling amongst themselves and getting nowhere.
What no one could have imagined – nor would we have dared to publish it – was that we would be getting a New Way hydra as leader.
A triple headed short term leadership with three very different heads – Duncan MacIntyre, Michael Breslin and Vivien Dance.
Did someone say something the other day about popcorn and a seat in the front row?
The difference between the clued up and the clueless revealed in these minutes could not be sharper – and the frustration of the clued up is manifest.
It’s dreadfully funny – but you have to feel real sympathy for Councillor Walsh. Follow him through the minutes and you get the picture. - Serenissima waits for higher tide – and she has had earlier identities
We are, of course aware of that.
Watching at the time, what we saw her do was make marked changes of course over a short distance, some times at 90 degrees and at one point turning through 180 degrees three times in a row.
While some of this could have swinging to tide and current, the repetitions did seem to suggest controlled activity.
And it was only when she settled that her AIS recorded ‘At Anchor.’
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The inadequacies in this study surely mirror the historic government mindset.
The delay in improving the A82 between Balloch and Tarbet until the traffic overload had reached nonsensical proportions, and the long-term reluctance to face up to the engineering challenges of making the A82 fit for purpose between Tarbet and Ardlui, and the A83 between Ardrishaig and Tarbert, point to a political establishment that all too often has its eyes fixed firmly on the major areas of population – and has its back turned on us.
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“The A83 is the only route in and out of – and right through Argyll down to Campbeltown, from the central belt.”
No, it is possible to cross the Firth of Clyde by vehicle ferry though that has now been reduced by the Government and Transport Scotland to a single monopoly operator with no price/profit control.
“it notes but does not quantify that there will have been some additional traffic on the Cowal ferries during the closure at the Rest. Everyone’s proverbial granny could have told us that – and did.”
Of course Transport Scotland did not quantify it because it would have been embarrassing to highlight that an important part of the transport network had been made into a monopoly.
“Transport Scotland civil servants, on this evidence, don’t know what an economic impact study demands and have no reason to suspect that MSPs know any better?”
Probably both. Transport Scotland are imcompetent and they know our MSP Michael Russell daydreams about tunnels.
Are you suggesting Newsroom that the Government is underinvesting in the West of Scotland and going about things in an incompetent manner? Would that not be an exaggeration after all they are thinking about doing something, sometime and if the A83 is closed you have alternatives of the A82 and the monopoly ferry service. Many communities would give their eye teeth for such a selection surely?
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“The hotel hired Loch Lomond Seaplanes to deliver the champagne to Inveraray pier.”
Does that mean it was cheaper to fly things in than to take a van over on Western Ferries? WF don’t display their commercial rates on their website, perhaps they don’t want to make the natives restless by advertising the surcharge on goods moving in and out of Cowal.
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Ah – a van delivery via Cowal would not have attracted the publicity the arrival of the seaplane at Inveraray did.
We’d hoped to make clear that The George was saying as loudly as possible ‘Look what the loss of this road access is doing to businesses here. We can’t fulfil our obligations to customers.’
The national media paid swift attention but not, apparently, Transport Scotland who conveniently ignored the impacts on businesses in this non-study.
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See Lochgoilhead didnt get a mention AGAIN, when that road is closed we have no public transport to Glasgow as Helensburgh bus wont come long way, and it takes us an extra 60 miles to get to Glasgow, but we get no sympathy as especially for a small village who rely on tourism and people wont drive the detour as it too long and the ferry is too expensive !!!!!!
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There was a driver of a commercial van looking for a ferry at the CalMac pier this morning. I sent him along to Western. He was concerned about prices but I could not advise him as they don’t publish commercial rates on their website. It is a bit much that as people have to turn up before finding out how much it will cost.
I have heard the commercial rates are high and, if they are, we all end up paying through increased costs for goods and services.
I have every sympathy with Lochgoilhead. No doubt the newroom position is that you are spoilt for choice with roads and ferry services.
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This passed me by as I was at sea when it was published; a snow job of the first water, a report with no useful facts in it. Using data I’ve made up plus a cursory look at wikipedia, by my calculations the road closures have cost Argyll £3.1m per day and heightened landslide risk warnings have cost £250k per day. It’s fun doing this report writing thing; is there money in it?
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Yes db there is always money in the report writing business
and those without substance such as the above are really useful as a delaying tactic. Keep musing,and naval gazing for long enough and the problem might just quietly go away…its only Argyll after all, so why should we expect road safety and a thriving economy?
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