[18.30 updated version] There are also community land ownership issues on the horizon.
There is a man who has lived on Easdale for 11 years with his wife and 2 children, the youngest of whom goes to Easdale school.
He has been the island’s principal ferryman for 10 years.
He has become a victim of the governing ethos of the community company on the island – Eilean Eisdeal - whose directors are identified but whose specific membership remains a secret.
The Residents and Property Owners; Association unequivocally support the ferryman in what appears to be a retributive dispute.
This Monday, 8th October, there was an unpleasant incident on the island’s ferry when a Highlands and Islands MSP who lives on the island and is central to the community company, boarded the ferry at lunchtime to leave the island.
The ferry – in the charge of the famously punctual ferryman was, as usual, in time but the MSP is said to have accused it of being late, sworn at the ticket collector on the ferry and refused to show a ticket, as is required.
The directors of Eilean Eisdeal are believed since to have made one of a series of complaints about the ferryman to his employers, Argyll and Bute Council. These complaints are said to be designed to have him removed from his post.
We understand that council officers are holding a meeting in Oban today at which the complaints made against the ferryman are being discussed.
The Residents and Property Owners’ Association have written to the council to protest against the basis of the complaints made and to make it clear that the ferryman has always provided a first class service and has been helpful and pleasant.
Matters between the ferryman and the Eilean Eisdeal company appear to have been aggravated recently. After observing an island minor who appeared to be drunk and to have been handling an inflatable dinghy across Easdale Sound, possibly with other minors aboard, the ferryman, concerned for the safety of those involved, reported the matter to social services who in turn reported it to the police.
The minor in question was the son of one of the directors of the Eilean Eisdeal company who is said to have been out of the country at the time – and the result was what seems to have been a vindictive complaint to the council about the ferryman.
We have been told that a senior officer at Argyll and Bute Council phoned the MSP whose behaviour triggered the latest outbreak and reminded him that refusal to produce a ticket for a fare is a police matter; and that when the MSP returned to the island later that day, he produced a ticket to the collector and bought several books of tickets.
The situation on the island has become too much for the ferryman and he has his house there on the market.
Eilean Eisdeal may lose the island a highly responsible ferryman, a family and a child for the local school.
The recent very public schemozzle over whether or not the annual World Stone Skimming Championships would or would not go ahead [due essentially to the failure of Eilean Eisdeal to acquire and produce to the .landowner a valid public liability insurance certificate to cover the occasion] – has led to the owner of the island offering it for sale.
It is understood that Eilean Eisdeal is interested in pursuing a community buy out of the island.
Such a proposal in a small and conflicted community would be unlikely to succeed in funding submissions to underpin a bid.
Imagine the embarrassment for the land reform movement in Scotland if an island owned and managed by a community trust were to have their conduct as landlords legally challenged by some of their tenants? That would be a philosophical conundrum no one would wish to see. Yet in this difficult situation nothing would be a more certain bet.
Anxious to determine some factual security on the current incident, we asked Mike Mackenzie, the MSP in question for his account of the incident in which he has been said to have sworn at the ticket collector and refused to show a ticket; and in which he is supposed to have been contacted about the matter by a council official.
Mr Mackenzie replied promptly saying:
‘I did make a minor comment/complaint on Monday about the ferrymen arriving back slightly late after their lunch break. This meant that I was unable to buy a book of tickets as these are only available from the ferry waiting room and not from the boat.
‘I bought a book of tickets on my return and gave them a ticket in respect of this journey.
‘It does not seem unreasonable that the ferrymen arrive a couple of minutes before the ferry leaves in order to allow passengers to buy tickets, especially after an hour and half break.’
This response makes no mention of whether he swore; or of whether he was contacted by the council official concerned.
We understand fully how easy it is in a small community – and one isolated between the hours of the last ferry in the evening and the next one the following morning – for disputes of initially modest scale to accelerate to monstrous proportions. But this situation is out of control.
A temper flare followed by what appears to be an unpleasantly retributive complaint against the ferryman – is not remotely the picture of a community that would be easy to support in establishing a community buy out.
And Mr Mackenize has fences to mend.
Note: The earlier version of this article was based on some misunderstandings and is now corrected.
After a very healthy increase(up to around 55 adults in 2005), the population of Easdale Island has been in steady decline (now around 35 resident adults) ever since Eilean Eisdeal directors have been trying to impose unwanted developments on islanders.
It will be an especially sad loss, for not only another family to leave, but also a highly valued ferryman.
It seems that yet another politician has seen fit to insult someone who provides a public service. Is this Easdale’s version of “plebgate”?
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It seems to me that the ferryman’s job is at risk because of the behaviour of the local MSP and Eilean Eisdeal directors, not ‘collateral damage of internecine conflict on Easdale Island’.
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You are correct, This was a misunderstanding of ours which has been corrected in a revised version above.
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“was a misunderstanding of ours which has been corrected in a revised version above.”
See! That’s how you re-write history and ‘correct’ your mistakes…..
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Simon – everyone makes mistakes. We are open about ours. This was a misinterpretation of mine of information which I understand why I received as I did – but which was incorrect and which transposed the actual genesis of this incident to the conflicted situation on the island.
The version above is now, I believe, correct.
Lynda
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“Imagine the embarrassment for the land reform movement in Scotland if an island owned and managed by a community trust were to have their conduct as landlords legally challenged by some of their tenants?”
Is that not what happening on Bute Newsie???? Mmmmmm?
People entitled to become members applying for membership because they do not see why the six absentee landlords living in England should determine the future of Bute.
Is that not an embarassment???
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Pingback: Argyll News: Council supports Easdale Island ferryman | For Argyll
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhh !
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I do not know the full set up of the Trust on Bute but have a feeling it is very different to the Eilean Eisdeal. Eilean Eisdeal is a membership organisation http://www.easdale.org/join/index.php
We know that at least two thirds of its membership do not live on the island, yet have a full vote. We also know that no matter how many full-time residents join the organisation, they cannot outnumber the non-resident members.
Several complaints have been made to OSCR about Eilean Eisdeal and recommendations have been made by them in an attempt to improve the behaviour and conduct of the directors – which seem to have been ignored.
Have any complaints been made to OSCR about the trust on Bute? If so, what was the outcome?
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I see from the Oban times this week that Mike Mackenzie MSP will be holding an advice surgery on the island of Ulva on 15th October, what possible advice could he give?
How to avoid paying tradesmen and suppliers for goods and services.
How to wreck an islands delicate infrastructure with heavy construction machinery.
How to manipulate a charity.
How to pervert the course of justice.
How to intimidate and threaten islanders and ferrymen
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Mary, I like your observant and accurate comments on Mr. MacKenzie, and I agree with you: “What possible advice could he offer?”
Furthermore, who would be stupid enough to listen to the self-important drivel that he spouts?
But, more germaine, on the five points you make, there is more than enough evidence to support each and every one of them.
Now, here’s an intersting question. Why is it that MacKenzie’s mouth is closed? Surely, a decent MSP would leap forward to protect his character and the honourable status of the office. Unless, of course, all your statements are true; which I certainly believe to be the case.
Come on Mr. MacKenzie. Stand up and tell the truth publicly.
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McKenzie gives me the creeps. He seems to have an awful attitude towards everyone. He couldn’t even be bothered turning up when he was in court that time.
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In my opinion, and personal experience, Mackenzie behaves as if he is above the law.
There is also a lot of evidence that seems to show he thought planning regulations didn’t apply to him either.
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Biography:
:)?
Michael MacKenzie was born in Oban. He was brought up in Glasgow but retained a strong connection with Argyll.
He was educated at Allan Glens School and Glasgow University
Does anyone know what he was educated in at Glasgow University and to what end. Four years in a jar of formaldehyde is not an acceptable answer . Possibly the works of Chris de Burgh? songs about not paying ferryman, god the devil and souls, revolution , living on an island, ship to shore and many more
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I have been led to believe that he did not last long at Glasgow University and did not gain any qualifications. I’m not sure that he has any building qualifications either. As far as I’m aware he has never declared any.
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How very fortunate Mr Mac Kenzie MSP doesn`t have to cycle past police security at Westminster!!
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Perhaps it’s also fortunate the he doesn’t need to prove that he has any qualifications – he can just state that he attended a university.
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Why doesn’t the constant down thumber make a statement in defence of this megalomaniac or is it he? there must be some substance in his/her disagreement with all these posts?
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It’s megAlomaniac, sokay. Sorry to be pedantic, but you need the correct spelling of the word to look it up. OED definition: “The insanity of self-exaltation”.
“Mega” basically means “very big” (megalith = very big stone, etc.) but it also has the sense of “a million times” – as in megabytes. So may we deduce from the most apposite epithet that you’ve applied, that Mr. MacKenzie believes himself to be a million times more important and influential than he really is?
Wonder how John Swinney’s enjoying having him as his “runner”??
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This frail wizened old man is hardly the best candidate to be a ‘runner’.
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Fairynuff CD (don’t look it up it’s phonetics) it was only a dropped “a” and I’m sure most of the posters on here could have looked it up and found it.Perhaps I should have suggested that the person seemed to be suffering from megalomania? That’s what a megalomaniac is! Cheers
:)
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Another balanced piece of drivel from ForArgyll and the poison Penney gang. So many secrets on such a small island – it must all be a conspiracy, I worry for your sanity JP.
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Are you saying that Mike Mackenzie didn’t swear at the ferryman, Patrick? And are you suggesting that he has got formal qualificiations?
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I dont have a clue or even care – am just highly amused at the utter keek this man who writes on these pages and what he gets in print when he doesnt even live there and professes to be expert on all matters relating to it. Laughable that you all fall in line – ripping folk to shreds. Very sad lives indeed.
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So I assume that you can’t answer my questions.
It seems to me that you are the person who is falling into line and I’m sure that I’m not the only person who finds it laughable that you don’t even care. Swearing at the ferryman was a very serious matter. Also, in my opinion, a public figure who claims to have attended a university is surely implying that they have formal qualifications. If it’s not true then they are misleading the public.
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The only people who know what happened are those who were within earshot on the ferry. Were you one of them? If so then you are perfectly entitled to make assumptions from what you heard. If you’re going on hearsay Lowry then you’re falling into the trap.
I have been on that ferry when Willie ‘lost it’ at someone in another boat – the ferry was packed with folk and kids and it was embarrassing. The man clearly wasnt well and was more to be pitied and helped.
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Did you complain? If you didn’t then you have little grounds on which to fling brickbats. If the ferryman is unfit to do his job it should be reported to the council, not used to score childish ‘points’ on the internet.
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Hello Mr. Geddes. I thought you died in 1934, but you seem to have been re-incarnated! I have nothing but admiration for your early work in many spheres and, indeed, for the work of your son-in-law Frank Charles Mears.
But oh! Look!!
Eilean Eisdeal’s Planning Consultant Suzanne McIntosh is a Consultant at Sir Frank Mears Associates!
And she’s a member of the “cross party working group at the Scottish Parliament on Architecture and the Built Environment”. Of which Mike MacKenzie MSP is also a member.
Now, isn’t that a coincidence?
Are you “outed”, Mr. Geddes?
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I believe that you are susan.
So you have been on our ferry twice and in that brief time have managed to observe our Trusted and Highly respected ferryman “Lose it ” (your words).
I have lived here well over ten years and have never observed what you claim. Did you make it up? Naughty!! Why did you not complain to the relevant authorities??? Well I suppose you would’nt if it was a Lie!!
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Didnt complain – we all tried to calm him down and stop the incident escalating at the time. Why on earth would you ‘complain’ after the event instead of dealing with it at the time?
Name the ‘grounds to fling brickbats’ that all these folk have in relation to the people they (probably dont even know)rip to shreds?
What’s that old saying, oh yes: People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
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So, by implication (and if it is true), the feryman ‘lost it’ therefore he ‘wasn’t well’. Are you therefore saying that if Mackenzie ‘lost it’ he also ‘wasn’t well’ or did he have another excuse?
I have personally been confronted by Mackenzie when he appeared to have ‘lost it’, but I would say it was nothing to do with his wellbeing – more likely he was trying to undermine mine. And yes, it did get reported to the police.
You still haven’t answered the questions about his formal qualifications.
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I have been told by a few islanders that Mike Mackenzie, former builder, has seemingly bragged that he does not have any formal building qualifications. I wonder if this explains his apparent difficulty in complying with conditions associated with previous planning applications. I understand he is on Scottish Government committees where he can offer building advice – has the SNP checked his credentials for this role?
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What is very strange is that no-one has been able to offer information about any qualifications that Mackenzie holds.
Also, ‘Patrick’ above named a ferryman. Does this mean that he/she was witness to the event of Mackenzie swearing at a ferryman or may even have been part of it?
Are they really trying to make excuses for Mackenzie or, by raising the issues again, making sure everyone can discuss them thoroughly on a very well used website? I’m glad to see that the SNP are regular readers!
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Very unsual for any party to let an issue perpetuate in such a negative fashion the way Mike Mackenzies’ situation has. Why has no one in his party come out and supported him?
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