MOMENTUM GROWS BEHIND WESTFIELD CAMPAIGN
Irate residents and FCS given the chance to air their views publicly
Over recent weeks The Observer has been running a story regarding the proposed extraction of timber from Kilmun Hill via Westfield, a small street in Strone.
Rarely does one issue generate such public anger.
The strength of feeling from the community in general over Forestry Commission Scotland’s (FCS) decision to use this road as the exit for lorries carrying felled timber has united the Strone, Kilmun, Blairmore and Ardentinny residents, virtually to a man.
The numerous concerns include the danger to children and animals, the damage to the road, drains and other vehicles in the street, lack of parking space and general noise and disturbance.
The Observer has, once again, received many letters on this subject and a selection of these can be found on our Safety Valve section on page 10.
Councillor Bruce Marshall is one of many who has become embroiled in the situation, and he has taken it upon himself to organise a public meeting which will take place next Wednesday, December 12 at 7pm in the Younger Hall, Kilmun. Representatives from FCS will be in attendance and members of the public are invited along to voice their concerns.
Cllr Marshall made the following statement: “Reading last week’s edition of Dunoon Observer I was concerned about statements made with regard to the implications of timber exiting Kilmun Hill via Westfield; and because they are ill informed, many of these statements are erroneous.
“However there can be no doubt that there are genuine concerns with regard to heavy timber lorries and what route they should take. If Westfield is abandoned as the traditional means of extracting timber from Kilmun and Blairmore then another route will have to be established and there are two favourites.
“The first is to establish an exit onto Midge Lane which would involve, because of the severe slope where the road would meet the A880, a section of the main road becoming one way to allow the new timber road to join the main road at the correct slope and angle. Do the residents of Ardentinny, Blairmore and Strone wish the main road to become one way for say a 100m section on Midge Lane? This option will cost about £60k.
“The second favourite option would be to link the forest road above Kilmun by creating a link through a high part of the Kilmun Arboretum before joining the existing forest road at the extreme north end of the Arboretum then building a new road which would exit at Rashfield just north of the old school. This option would cost in excess of £200k.
“I have established the fact that there is still £5m in the Scottish Timber Transport Strategy fund and that money could possibly be accessed to part fund one of the above options, however this would further delay extraction of timber by another three to four years if a bid were successful and my understanding is that FCS has no money budgeted for part funding for the next three years.
“The degree of public concern has led me to the conclusion that this subject should have a public airing and FCS should be allowed to present its case. I have booked Younger Hall Kilmun for a public meeting on Wednesday December 12 at 7.00pm.”
If you feel strongly, one way or another, about the proposal to use Westfield then please go along to the meeting and voice your concerns. This may be your last chance.


“DO YOU THINK IT’S WORTH IT?”
This is the question put to the people of Dunoon by Fyne Homes’ Chief Executive Alan MacDougall, as he spoke about the Burgh Hall, following a presentation made to the Bute and Cowal Area Committee at its meeting on Tuesday.
An options appraisal team has been trying to find a solution to the Burgh Hall issue for several months. Representatives from two of the organisations which form the team spoke out in some detail for the first time since the process got under way.
Alan MacDougall opened the discussion by describing the work done by Fyne Homes in Dunoon since it took over the assets of Dunoon and Cowal Housing Association some years ago. Stating that the Burgh Hall was not part of Fyne Homes’ “core business” – providing homes – he called it “the elephant in the room which we can’t ignore.”
“Fyne Homes’ resources are being diverted to the Burgh Hall, but it’s still going nowhere,” he continued. “Clearly, this situation cannot continue. We need help to move this thing forward.
“We need fresh eyes, a blank sheet and no baggage. Whatever is done with the Burgh Hall needs to be credible, respected and based on facts not sentiment.”
He introduced Sarah MacKinnon of Strathclyde Buildings Preservation Trust (SBPT) and David Millar of the Glasgow office of Austin Smith Lord (ASL), an architecture and design consultancy. SBPT has, said Mr MacDougall, a “demonstrable track record in transforming redundant buildings into sustainable community assets,” while ASL specialise in housing, regeneration work and arts/cultural projects, including work on Maryhill Burgh Hall.
David Millar of ASL took the presentation forward, commencing with a summary of what the team has done so far. Reports have been prepared which include an examination of the condition of the building, historical research, community consultation, views on its significance, preliminary architectural solutions, and estimated costs.
“The building plays a key role in the townscape,” he said. “St John’s Church and the pier buildings were all designed by the same architect, who is an important figure in Scottish architecture generally.
“It is also very important in terms of giving character to the townscape, as it helps to define the identity and status of Dunoon as a 19th century coastal town.”
He delivered the grim news that there is dry rot in three locations within the hall and this puts it most definitely “at risk”.
Mr Millar then listed the potential solutions for use of the Burgh Hall – residential development; commercial/office use; and as a community facility.
He ended his part of the presentation by warning: “The Burgh Hall is at considerable risk – time for this building is running out.”
Sarah MacKinnon of SBPT took over at this point to examine the possible solutions in more detail.
Conversion to residential use could yield 8 accommodation units. If these were shared equity homes, a deficit cost of approximately £800,000 would result, but with a significant benefit to the community given the demand for affordable homes. If properties were sold on the open market, the deficit would shrink to around £400,000, the community benefit would decrease and funding potential would be affected.
Office conversion could generate some income and the property would lend itself to such development.A possible deficit of £800,000 would still come into play with this option.
Retaining a community space with partial office accommodation would mean a deficit of £600,000 but decisions would require to be taken as to how the community space would be used.
Capital costs for each of the above options were estimated at £2million at this stage.
Ms MacKinnon stated that the Burgh Hall “is a building of significance that should be saved.” Cautioning that any regeneration of Dunoon could potentially be devalued if the Burgh Hall was lost, she pointed out that although there were possible funding deficits, a community buy-in could raise additional funding and close the gap.
“It would be awful if it was lost,” she said. “It seems that the Burgh Hall is important to the local people, but we have found that they are not that eager to come forward and talk to us.
“There is past history when a feasibility study into uses for the Burgh Hall went wrong, and it is possible that feelings are still bruised from this.
“However, it’s not time to give up yet.”
Despite the lack of concrete solutions at this stage, Ms MacKinnon went on to outline an action plan. Asking if Argyll and Bute Council had a role to play, she encouraged further discussion with the council and the inclusion of the issue in the town centre regeneration business plan due by April/May 2008. She called for further community involvement and confirmed that a public meeting to discuss the future of the hall would be held in January.
“The people of Dunoon need to decide in what way this building is important to them and whether retention of the building is what they want.
“If it was an A-listed building it would attract funding purely on merits. However, as a B-listed building, and without demonstrable community support, it is not going to be able to draw the same level of funding.”
David Millar echoed this, saying: “If we are able to be definitive about the use of the building, we can be more definitive about the costs.
“Historic Scotland has said in preliminary discussions that it may be sympathetic to providing grant funding.”
Committee Chair Bruce Marshall affirmed his desire to see the building saved, and urged the community to get behind the issue, calling for a good turnout at the forthcoming public meeting in January.
Sarah MacKinnon concluded by warning: “There is dry rot romping through the building and it is most certainly at risk. Because of this, in its current state it may have a limited life span – possibly two or three years. The people with the best chance of stopping this are those in the Dunoon community.
“The best option for saving the building would be the purpose for which it was originally designed - a community facility. ”
Alan MacDougall summed up by confirming this: “We need people to come forward with solutions, with suggestions.
“Today’s presentation has not provided answers, but has raised more questions.
“This is a big challenge for the town – does the town think it’s worth it?”
The date for the January meeting has not yet been confirmed. The members of the options appraisal team reiterated their wish to hear from members of the community who have an opinion on the future of the Burgh Hall, especially suggestions and proposals for possible uses. Further information about the work of SBPT and ASL, together with contact details, can be found on the websites of each organisation – www.sbpt.org.uk and www.austinsmithlord.com.
The situation is clear: it’s time to speak up for the Burgh Hall now, before decisions have to be made – and before the “romping dry rot” makes the decision for us. Members of the appraisal team and the council think it’s worth saving. Do you think it’s worth it?


WHAT HAPPENED TO NO BOATS, NO VOTES?
Bute and Cowal Area Committee Chair, Councillor Bruce Marshall, called for urgent action on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry issue at the committee’s meeting earlier this week.
“Gourock-Dunoon Ferry Service - verbal update” appears on the monthly agendas regularly. At the committee meeting in Dunoon’s Queen’s Hall on Tuesday December 4, following council leader Dick Walsh’s advice that he was still awaiting confirmation of a meeting with Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson, Councillor Marshall expressed his unhappiness at the lack of a firm date.
“We keep hearing that we don’t have a date for the meeting, but we are six months into the new administration - what’s happening?” he asked. “I am very unhappy with this situation.
“There was a public meeting held last February and the public voted on the strength of what they heard at that event. The government is duty bound to do something - it is dragging its feet on this issue.
“I feel strongly that the Area Committee should write a letter to Mr Stevenson asking for an immediate meeting.
“This committee does not meet again until February next year, and I don’t want to find we are again in the same situation then. Time is running out for us.”
Councillor Walsh responded that he was “as unhappy as anyone” about the situation, and that he understands that Mr Stevenson intends to call a summit meeting which will include representatives from Argyll and Bute Council and Inverclyde Council, who have also been involved in discussions on the issue.
“I hope that we will be able to meet at the turn of the year, after there has been an opportunity to examine the finer detail of the spending review announced recently,” he said.
“There has been considerable detailed and positive communication with the minister, who is well aware of the importance of the issue,” he continued. “We want to provide the solution that the people of Dunoon want, which is a passenger and vehicle service from the town centre.
“I am not sure what value such a letter from the area committee would add. I would not stand in the way of it, but would say that there has been a lot of work on this issue and I do not want anything to prejudice the effort that has gone before.”
Councillor James McQueen asked if the council was making best use of its relationship with local MSP Jim Mather to exert pressure on Mr Stevenson, reminding the meeting of the “no boats, no votes” campaign during May’s elections. Councillor Ron Simon stated that Mr Mather had been working on that very issue during his trip to Brussels last week, and Councillor Isobel Strong confirmed: “Any councillors who have an opportunity to lobby any government ministers have been doing so.”
Councillor Marshall continued to express his wish for the committee to send a letter pressing the Transport Minister for action, saying: “We are impatient here. We have a brand new linkspan, and people are laughing at us. We are having to spend money maintaining the old linkspan and keep getting told there are no boats available - even though I was recently given a list of potentially suitable vessels which could be put to work on the Gourock-Dunoon service.”
The issue of vessels was taken further by Councillor MacAlister who asked: “Why can’t the Coruisk be used in conjunction with the streakers?
“When built, it was said that it was to be used for the upper Clyde services during the winter. It is capable of using the linkspan. However it is currently doing nothing. Why is CalMac not using it?”
Following the discussion, the committee agreed that a letter would be sent pressing for a date to be set for the meeting. The wording will be agreed by Councillor Walsh and in addition, clarification on the situation relating to the MV Coruisk will be sought beforehand.


CORLARACH WIND FARM TO GO TO HEARING
An application to create a wind farm at Corlarach Hill will be referred to a special hearing, following Tuesday’s meeting of Bute and Cowal Area Committee in Dunoon. Cowal Wind Energy Ltd hopes to establish a wind farm consisting of 14 wind turbines and associated foundations, together with access tracks and water crossings and other related infrastructure, at the Glen Fyne site.
Argyll and Bute Council’s planning department has recommended refusal of the application for a number of reasons. The proposed development would be sited on or near the crest of a high plateau which would have significant visual impact on Bute and the Kyles, as well as various locations on the east Clyde corridor from Largs to Gourock.
In addition, the site is located in a zone designated as “Very Sensitive Countryside” in the Cowal Local Plan 1995, and is also outwith any designated wind farm areas.
The location is known to support golden eagles and black grouse. The proposal also carries potential for adverse consequences to general conservation interests in the area, including other protected wildlife species. The planning department’s paper detailing reasons for its recommendation of refusal also states that the setting of B-listed Knockdow House would be detrimentally affected.
The application has attracted considerable local interest. The council has received a total of 942 letters of representation – 745 in support and 197 of objection. Of the supporting letters, a majority are said to be in standard petition letter format from non-local addresses including Wales, England, Ireland, Europe and North America. Among the reasons given for support of the application are no damage to tourism; financial benefits; opportunities for local companies and employment; positive contribution to national renewable energy targets, and assisting Scotland’s climate change commitments.
Half of the objection letters take the form of a standard letter, with the majority originating from Bute/Cowal addresses. The main points of objection are summarised as the visual and cumulative impact; effect on the National Park; reduced property values; blow to tourism; noise; ‘constrained area’ location, and the potential harm to wildlife.
Objections have also been raised by Dunoon and Cowal Marketing Group, Isle of Bute Marketing and Tourism Ltd, and VisitScotland.
At Tuesday’s meeting, a brief presentation on the application was given by a planning official and, following a short discussion, it was agreed that the proposals should be the subject of a PAN 41 hearing. Council leader Dick Walsh said: “The significant level of representation from the public must be taken into account when organising the hearing. We must give everyone the opportunity to be heard, and do not want to exclude anyone’s input.”
Area committee members will require to visit the site for a viewing on the day preceding the hearing, which will be arranged in due course.