POLITICS? WHO CARES?
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THE ELECTION
The Dunoon Observer and Argyllshire Standard parliamentary hustings meeting was held last Thursday in the Queen’s Hall, Dunoon.
A healthy turnout of around 80 people saw a lively question and answer session develop, chaired by Graham Thomas, as the candidates were put through their paces.
In many ways, however, the event was an example of what has gone wrong with politics in Scotland.
Notwithstanding the fairly respectable turnout, it was hard to spot anyone under 40 years old in the hall.
This worrying apathy among the younger members of the community bodes ill for the future. Politics needs a mix of young ideas and mature thought if it is to function effectively, and there is a real need to involve young people, if democracy is to work.
With most of the polls predicting an SNP victory, this has to be one of the most important elections in 300 years.
By common consent the party’s candidate, Jim Mather, was the most impressive speaker.
Jamie McGrigor was very effective, mixing humour with brevity, saying little, but making his points well. As the new girl on the block Mary Galbraith should be happy with her performance, and George Lyon, as the sitting MSP, proved adept at fielding potentially awkward questions.
There was no shortage of promises, but perhaps the most significant was a cross-party guarantee to maintain the Gourock-Dunoon vehicle ferry service. How this is to be achieved was not made clear, but one is tempted to hope that in terms of an operator, options other than CalMac are explored, since the company’s track record on this service in recent years has been disastrous.
It was also rather irritating to hear yet again the nonsense about going to Brussels to get the restrictions lifted on the service. They weren’t imposed by Brussels in the first place, so it’s time to stop spinning this particular yarn.
It was perhaps unfortunate that no one was there to defend Argyll and Bute Council, which came in for a great deal of stick from all the candidates over the single status controversy. The new council, of whatever hue, should make it a priority to address this issue as a matter of urgency.
Scottish Water was also given something of a mauling by every candidate present. Their high-handed and inept approach to engineering and public relations has caused problems all over Argyll and Bute. They have, as a result, left themselves a soft target for electioneering politicians of whatever hue.
The ball, however, is at our feet. Next Thursday provides the opportunity for the people of Cowal to play their part in determining the shape of both Parliament and Council.
It’s your future that’s being entrusted to politicians, so make sure you have a say in who’s elected – get out and vote!


ARDYNE PROJECT - LOCAL BUSINESSES SPEAK OUT
Although the attendees at the meeting in Innellan Village Hall last week were less enthusiastic, it would appear that the business fraternity is all in favour of the ‘community’ which would see a marina with 220 berths and associated land facilities, a housing development with over 200 residential properties, a retail outlet, a hotel and small industrial units. The plan also includes a ferry link between Ardyne and Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute.
Paul Adams who owns the Osborne Hotel in Innellan welcomes the idea. He said: “Nobody has any real reason to come down this way any more. In the two years we have been here we have seen the village die; most of the shops in the village have closed.
“The site has become a dump and something has to happen there. I think this proposal would be good for the area. It would have a knock-on effect bringing tourists and jobs and would generally raise the standard of living which can only be a good thing.”
William Giudici, who is a customer at the Osborne added: “It would be great, hopefully bringing back the feel-good factor to the village. Everybody is a bit down because of all the shops that have had to shut down.”
Stewart Shaw of Stewart Shaw Ltd, which has sites in Dunoon and Bute, can also see the benefits. “There are no downsides as far as I can see. Every part of the development would bring business to the area. I’m all for it.”
Paddy Bowie who regularly commutes between Dunoon and Rothesay said: “It’s a great idea. The ferry would be cheaper for me, and it would mean less travelling, which would be good for the environment.
“The development would bring work and jobs and the families that move into the houses would be good for the community.”
In Toward the feeling was mirrored although one resident did have concerns about the traffic, especially near the school. She said: “In general I believe that it would be really good. We need to increase the population and the addition of over 200 houses would do this. It would also bring more young people to the village. As long as the houses were affordable.
“My only slight worries are the traffic and the condition of the road. If it does go ahead, the speed limit would need to be reduced near the school and I would like to know if the road would be maintained.”
Gordon Ross, Managing Director of Western Ferries is also confident that the project would be beneficial.
He said: “There would be a positive impact on local businesses and tourism; everyone would benefit. This represents a significant opportunity for Cowal as a whole.”


Spillage near Kilmelford disrupts travel
A spillage of formic acid on the A816 Lochgilphead - Oban road last Friday resulted in long diversions for many motorists and apparently minor pollution.
The acid was being carried by lorry to Oban via Lochgilphead, when the driver realised that a container was leaking, at around 11.25am, near Kilmelford, close to the Oude dam reservoir.
Police, fire crews, and officers from Scottish Water and SEPA were quickly on the scene, as fluid leaked into the reservoir.
Strathclyde Police issued health warnings to residents, closed roads and shut water supplies as experts tackled the 1000 litre spillage.
Officers also advised residents in Kilmore, Kilmelford and Kilmartin to see their doctor if they felt unwell. It was also thought that some pollution may have affected Lochgilphead as the vehicle travelled through.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said that spillage had caused measurable damage around the dam. Jim Frame, senior environment protection officer for SEPA’s Argyll area said: “Some vegetation has been burned where the chemical entered the water.
“No fish kills have been identified and, with the immediate dilution effect from the quantity of water in the Oude, no long-term environmental damage is anticipated. Some contaminated soil has been removed from the area and will be sent to a suitable licensed facility for safe disposal.”
The A83 at Arrochar and the A816 between Oban and Lochgilphead were closed to allow a team of specialist fire fighters to clean up the road.
The lorry driver was taken to hospital as a precaution, but is not reported to have been seriously affected.
A spokeswoman for NHS Highland said there had been no reports of anyone being poisoned as a result of the spillage. She said: “We don’t want to alarm people. The symptoms of a poisoning would be very similar to common illnesses such as hay fever, so we do not want to alarm people by making them think they have been poisoned.”
As a precaution, diversion signs were set up on the A83 near Arrochar, leaving travellers with no option but to travel to their destinations via Crianlarich. One motorist, who was trying to get home to Cowal from Glasgow, said “I was asked by a police officer at the Tarbet Junction where I was going, and when I told him, he sent me up via Crianlarich and Dalmally”. Many people assumed that there had been a chemical spillage around the Rest and be Thankful, but the police have confirmed that this was not the case.