NEW DUNOON GRAMMAR SCHOOL OPENS
The start of any school term is a time of excitement and trepidation for both pupils and staff. Across Argyll and Bute, this session begins with more than the usual sense of stepping into the unknown, as a number of new school developments open for business.
Despite a number of setbacks of various types during construction, the latest involving a delay of some seven weeks in handing over the new premises, there is a great sense of anticipation amongst staff, pupils and council representatives at the prospect of a brand new school serving Cowal.
The new Dunoon Grammar School campus was formally handed over to Argyll and Bute Council last Friday, as main contractor Mansell pulled out all the stops to have the building completed in time for the new term.
ABC Schools Ltd, project development partner for Argyll and Bute Council, advised that the new campus was certified for occupation earlier this week, and it is now all systems go to move into it.
To ensure that staff have time to get their move completed, three extra days holiday for pupils were agreed with the Scottish Executive, and the children will not return until this coming Monday (August 20).
Getting ready
A great deal of work was required earlier this week to turn the building into a place fit for teaching, as IT networks and hardware, Home Economics suites, Art rooms, Technology suites and other equipment were set up around the campus.
Volunteer senior pupils will be visiting the school today (Friday) in order to familiarise themselves with the layout, before being asked to act as mentors to the rest of the school when term starts next week.
Speaking at the handover, Argyll and Bute Council’s Depute Leader, Robert Macintyre said: “I am delighted that we have now reached the end of this lengthy process and that staff and pupils in Dunoon can now look forward to teaching and learning in a building which is fit for the 21st century.
“The new campus will not only give access to a modern learning environment but it will also provide pupils with excellent sports facilities,” he concluded.
Council spokesperson for Education and Lifelong Learning, Isobel Strong, continued, “It is great to hear that the handover has taken place. I am sure the whole community will welcome this news, especially all the people who will be part of the new campus - pupils, parents and staff.”
Director of Community Services Douglas Hendry added, “This is the second new facility to be provided under the council’s innovative variant on the Public Private Finance theme, the Non Profit Distributing Organisation model, which allows surpluses generated through the model to be reinvested in education in Argyll and Bute.
“I am sure that the new amenities will provide top quality facilities for the current and future generations of young people in Dunoon and Cowal”
A spokesperson from ABC Schools Ltd said: “We are extremely happy to be progressing in our partnership with Argyll and Bute Council and delivering to it top quality schools that will enhance the education environment for all concerned and in particular the pupils of Dunoon Grammar”
New pitches
In a sense though, the job is only half done as the new school opens.
The previous school buildings have to be demolished to make way for the construction of two new floodlit sports pitches, which it is hoped will be ready for use by Christmas.
The school will also be home to a music recording studio, a drama recording studio and a greenhouse in the science department. It also houses a top class sports hall, two gymnasia, a fitness room and a dance studio.
Uniform changes
One further development taking place in tandem with the new Dunoon Grammar School opening is the introduction of a new school uniform. This emerged after consultation with parents, pupils and staff, when there was overwhelming support for a new uniform, as opposed to a dress code.
Various options were considered for the design, but ultimately a traditional style was settled upon, based on a white shirt, with a tie bearing the school crest.
S1 and S2 pupils will wear a red tie; S3 and S4 a blue variation; with S5 and S6 sporting a natty black style of tie. A black V-neck sweater, black trousers or skirt and black shoes complete the ensemble. The traditional Prefect’s blazer continues.
Orders for sweaters and ties can now be picked up from the school.


HARMONY SITE COMPANY IN ADMINISTRATION
The Companies House (the official government register of UK companies) website confirms that the current status of Kelty Plant and Tool Hire Ltd is “in administration”, with the administration start date given as August 3.
The website also confirms that a company by the name of Kelty Plant Hire Ltd was incorporated on July 31 this year, naming John Mullan of Kelty, among others, as a director. Mr Mullan is also listed as a director for Kelty Plant and Tool Hire Ltd.
Local businesses which have supplied the company with materials and have not yet received payment, now face a wait to see if they can recover any monies due to them.
The developers of the site, Thirlestane Lands, advised the Observer that they have paid Kelty Plant and Tool Hire Ltd for all works completed on the site, and are keen to emphasise that their proposed development of apartments will go ahead.
Gilbert Naismith, site manager for Thirlestane, said: “We are disappointed in the situation with Kelty.
“Up till now, we have had a good relationship with the company and plans have been proceeding well with co-operation from the council. We have also had a good response from locals who are as keen as we are to see the site developed.
“We will be building flats on that site. This will not stop the development proceeding.”
When asked about the current status of works on the site, Mr Naismith said that initial preparatory digging for installation of water services had to be refilled due to potential safety concerns as Cowal Games approaches, but he hoped that issues with Scottish Water would be resolved imminently and further delays would be avoided.
Heavy plant with Kelty Plant Hire signage is still located on the site. Kelty Plant and Tool Hire Ltd had advised the Observer last week that its remaining equipment would be removed shortly, but as we went to press, the machinery was still on site with no information available from either Kelty Plant Hire or Thirlestane Lands about how or when this might be moved.
Kelty Plant and Tool Hire Ltd has since declined to comment to the Observer.


BOY INJURED AT ‘DANGEROUS’ PLAY PARK
On Friday afternoon a young boy was lucky to escape with minor injuries after tripping over the remnants of an uprooted pole at the West Bay play park.
Three-year-old Lucas was enjoying a family day out when he stumbled over the jagged remains and received a nasty cut on his face just below his left eye when he landed on the concrete.
Although shaken, luckily the youngster is on the way to making a full recovery.
The hazard is situated next to the chute in the popular park, where countless children run around day after day.
Lucas’s mum, Mireille, said: “Lucas came down the chute and ran back to have another go, as kids do; and that’s when he tripped. The way the pole has been cut is an absolute disgrace. It should have been dug out properly, not just left the way it is. I’m sure that Lucas is not the only child to have had an accident.
“It’s a real shame because he had been having such a wonderful day with his gran.”
On Monday morning Mireille went to the council offices at Milton House in Dunoon and took along some general pictures she took of the playpark as she feels that there are several areas of danger that need addressed, over and above this one.
Mireille was not overly satisfied with the answers she received, however. She said: “Once I got to speak to someone from the relevant department the first thing he said to me was that he would get me a compensation form. I don’t want compensation, I want something done about it.
“I was then told that the playpark is regularly inspected. Well, I’m sorry, but if it is then someone is not doing their job properly.”
A council spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused to this little boy and his family. We carry out regular inspections of all our play parks and will ensure that this matter is investigated.”


Swinney announces first steps towards reduced ferry fares
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney announced details of work targeted at delivering lower ferry fares for Scotland’s island communities.
The first step will be a study to establish the most effective and sustainable structure for a Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot scheme for setting ferry fares in Scotland. The benefits to islanders are a fundamental part of this study into RET.
Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) involves setting ferry fares on the basis of the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road.
High ferry fares have been seen by many as a barrier to economic growth on the islands. Lowering the fares to a level analogous to mainland traffic costs could act as a boost to island economies by reducing freight costs to local businesses, lowering the cost of living for island residents and making the islands more attractive to tourists.
Speaking from Stornoway Harbour earlier this week, Mr Swinney said: “This Government recognises the vital importance of lifeline ferry services in supporting Scotland’s island communities. We understand the genuine concerns from our remote and fragile communities about the affordability of ferry travel and the impact this has on islanders.
“I believe that the way forward is to consider the benefits of introducing a Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) approach to setting fares in Scotland. This approach would not just benefit islanders by providing cheaper fares but could also boost island economies by attracting tourists and supporting businesses.
“I am pleased to announce that we have moved ahead to fulfil our commitment to carry out a study into the benefits of RET. As part of that study we will undertake a pilot scheme on one or more of the routes between the mainland and the Western Isles.”
The preliminary work on the study is expected to be completed by the end of 2007 and will consist of a report on options and recommendations on the form that the pilot study should take.
The first phase will examine approaches to ferry fares and RET in other countries; offer definitions of RET that could be applied to all categories of passenger and vehicular traffic in the context of ferry fares for the Clyde, Hebrides and Northern Isles routes which are subsidised by the Scottish Executive; analyse the potential impact of a RET approach and make recommendations for the design and implementation of the pilot study.
Subsequent monitoring and evaluation will then be ongoing, including quantifying both the costs and benefits which would arise should RET be applied on a permanent basis and rolled out to the Clyde, Hebrides and Northern Isles networks, and the likely longer-term impacts of such a roll out.
This stage would also seek to identify any capacity constraints that would emerge from a permanent roll out and quantify the cost of increasing the capacity to meet demand (e.g. through additional or larger vessels and new shore infrastructure).
Gordon Ross, Managing Director of Western Ferries, commented: “If RET does come in on a non discriminatory basis for each passenger, this will really open up routes.
“At the moment, however, there is no detail to comment on, but we at Western Ferries welcome this pilot study, and await developments with interest.”
Hugh Dan MacLennan of CalMac said: “We will happily co-operate with the initial study to help inform it so that a robust pilot scheme can be achieved.
“It is entirely a matter for the Scottish Executive to take final decisons on what fares structure to apply.
“We will deliver whatever they choose to support financially.”
Whilst welcoming RET pilot schemes, Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll and Bute, said that, instead of all the islands benefiting from the pilot scheme being in the Western Isles, the routes which benefit should be throughout the Scottish islands and peninsulas and should include some in Argyll & Bute.
Mr Reid pointed out that it will be difficult to judge the effectiveness of the pilot scheme unless it covers a wide variety of islands and peninsulas.
He also criticised the Executive for cancelling the 40% cut in ferry fares that had been agreed by the Lib Dem and Labour coalition partners in the previous Scottish Executive and announced last March.
Under the Lib Dem/Labour scheme, residents of Scotland’s islands and peninsulas would have seen their ferry fares cut by 40%.