Campbeltown has long been plagued – indeed intimidated – by what is referred to as ‘anti-social driving’ in and through the town.

Argyll’s MSP, Jim Mather, has been in touch with the Chief Constable’s office and has now been assured by Chief Superintendant John Thompson of ‘L’ Division that the local force is fully aware of the matter and has been very active in policing it. He has told Mr Mather that ‘a considerable number’ of Fixed Penalty notices have been issued in such incidents. The Anti-Social Behaviour (Scotland) Act has also been invoked and in some cases used to seize vehicles through the use of ASBO notices.

This is a difficult issue and it is one aggravated by the division of the generations. When you’re older, as many of Argyll’s population are, you are very aware of your own vulnerability and find the sheer strength and vigour of young people frightening. Often they are just being young and, with little experience yet, have no idea how daunting their energy is to older people or what the consequences of their actions might be if something went wrong.

Remember what it was like when you got your first wheels? It was a mixture of the sharp reaction times of the young, utter self-confidence, limited skills and less experience but exhilaration in mastering a machine, testing your independence and loving the attention. It just doesn’t occur that the noise of revving engines, slamming doors, screaming brakes and handbrake turns scares the living daylights of people at risk if you lose it and who dare not cross the road. Being told that you’re keeping people awake just doesn’t make sense because you don’t know what it’s like to need sleep.

Of course this sort of behaviour cannot be allowed to run rampant around a town. And of course if the law is the only solution it has got to come down hard and clear. But being young anywhere is not easy and being young down the end of Kintyre and in a place dealing as constantly with deprivation as Campbeltown certainly narrows your options.

RAF Machrihanish is being sold off. There’s a lot of space out there. What about a kart track and a stock car racing track? Together these would hone skills that might breed future champion drivers for Argyll and bring audiences for thrilling family activities and events to a place that needs this sort of boost.

Strathclyde Police also has both a good policy and some first class officers in its Community Police service. Those attached to the Campbeltown force might welcome a development like this and could use it to build more productive relationships with the young people of the area.