Minister’s ferry visit leaves more questions than answers
Stewart Stevenson, the Minister for Transport, visited Dunoon this week to discuss the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service issue.
Attendees at Monday’s meeting included a group of Inverclyde councillors, members of Bute and Cowal Area Committee, and Scottish Government officials. Also represented were Highlands and the Islands Enterprise, Dunoon Community Council and the Pier Pressure Group. Ferry campaigner Professor Neil Kay was also present.
However, the meeting was held under the Chatham House Rule (see page 2). The reason given for its use on Monday was “to enable a full and frank discussion, and exchange of ideas.” Despite the fact that this issue is of vital importance to the local community, members of the press were not permitted to attend, although the rule does not appear to require their exclusion.
Mr Stevenson met with CalMac and Western Ferries before attending the afternoon meeting in Dunoon’s Queen’s Hall.
A spokesperson for CalMac said: “This was a very useful meeting which updates us on where we are with various issues including the Gourock-Dunoon route.
“We now await the government’s confirmation of details in due course.”
Gordon Ross, MD of Western Ferries said: “This was a very positive meeting - we are hopeful that it represents a step forward on this issue.”
The comments of those present at the later meeting were - frustratingly - restricted due to the use of the aforementioned rule, to the extent where some participants felt unable even to disclose details of the topics discussed. Again, this does not appear to be a requirement of the rule.
A statement issued by Argyll and Bute Council said: “We welcomed the opportunity to have a positive discussion with the minister, to retain and develop the vehicle and passenger service between Gourock and Dunoon.This route is vital to the economies of both the local communities. The meeting gave elected representatives from the council the opportunity to express key points.”
Councillor Bruce Marshall, chair of the local area committee, said: “It is essential now that this initial meeting leads to a swift conclusion of this long sorry episode which is blighting the Cowal peninsula’s competitive ability in reinforcing Dunoon as the Gateway to the National Park.”
A spokesperson for Inverclyde Council said: “The meeting was very helpful. With our partners at Argyll and Bute Council, we are keen to move forward with the Scottish Government to an agreed position on future options for ferry services between Gourock and Dunoon. The town centre to town centre route is essential for the economy of both areas and we believe the route is suitable for a public service obligation to allow for ongoing funding for the lifeline service between the town centres.
“We look forward to the frequency of the future service, which meets social and economic needs, being clearly defined. We are keen to take part in future representations to the European Commission and will be involved in further productive meetings with the Scottish Government regarding the way forward.”
Not all the feedback received was favourable. Dunoon Community Council stated: “We are angry and disappointed at what took place today, and feel extremely pessimistic about the future,” saying that further elaboration was felt to be impossible, once again due to the Chatham House rule issue”.
The community council advised that it intends to press ahead with plans for a full public event in early February, and will invite councillors from Argyll and Inverclyde, along with MPs, MSPs and representatives from all political parties, to an open meeting.
Mr Stevenson did speak to the Observer at a press conference in Gourock before travelling to Dunoon, and at the close of the afternoon meeting.
“We want to proceed to deliver in particular a pedestrian service supported by the public purse,” he said. “At the moment we have money that is provided for the passenger service across to Dunoon - we want to continue to be able to do that”.
On the subject of the new linkspan, he stated that he would encourage Western Ferries to look at whether some of their services could go straight to the town centre, adding: “At the end of the day, it’s not about the linkspan, it’s about making sure that we get the right services for the Cowal peninsula. The linkspan is likely to play an important role in that, but that will depend on what I hear today.”
When asked if the SNP government is committed to making sure that there is a passenger and vehicle service from Dunoon town centre, he replied: “We are committed to the passenger service, that’s what we are allowed under the EU rules - to provide state money to support a passenger service”.
He continued: “Given that we have a private sector vehicle service, it is much more difficult for us to put state money into that. I do want to ensure that we have vehicle connections to the centre of Dunoon and have met with both operators today to see what the options are.”
With regards to vessels, Mr Stevenson stated that at this stage, no firm decisions had been made, but advised: “The service that we can support with public money is a passenger one, so one of the options that we will certainly be considering is a direct dedicated passenger vessel.”
He emphasised the need for ensuring a thriving economy on both sides of the Clyde, saying: “It’s not simply about providing ferries. We need a package that addresses all community needs and ensures that we don’t simply create transport links without there being economic opportunities and businesses at the other end to make use of these ferry services.”
Mr Stevenson stated that Monday’s meeting had been a positive one, despite the range of views expressed. He confirmed that one of the topics discussed had been the protection of the community in relation to the cost of travelling across the Clyde, although no hard and fast conclusions had been reached with the operators.
“Whatever we come forward with has to deliver a certainty to the community that they will have affordable crossings,” he said. “In the next few weeks, there will be direct engagement between officials, the councils and local interest groups.
“I am determined that we are able to publicly show how we are going to take this matter forward in a matter of months and certainly within this calendar year. An announcement about our plans for the future will be made as soon as practicable.”
THE CHATHAM HOUSE RULE
Chatham House was formerly known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, and is a European foreign policy think-tank.
The Chatham House Rule was devised in 1927 with subsequent revisions in 1992 and 2002. Designed to provide anonymity to speakers and to encourage openness and the sharing of information, it reads: “When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.”


Industrial action hits council
Two major trade unions have begun a programme of industrial action affecting Argyll and Bute Council services.
The council, meanwhile, has dismissed the threat posed by these actions and questioned the mandate under which the decision was taken, stating that only 27 percent of Unison members voted in favour, and that just a handful of Unison members plan to take part.
Unison, which has more than 1700 members in the council, and the former Transport and General Workers Union - now known as Unite - have both announced action in response to the way in which the council has imposed single status conditions on employees.
The first phase of this programme of action, which started yesterday (Thursday), consists of a “work to rule”.
The unions are calling on members to stop:
• Working outwith their normal hours of employment
• Doing work beyond their job description and grade
• Carrying out council business in their private vehicles
• Attending meetings where, with travelling time, these would extend beyond normal working hours
• Providing an on-call service outwith working hours
• Working with consultants and contractors where the expertise exists within council staffThe effect of these actions will depend on the level of support by members of both unions, but could have a significant impact on services such as ferries, roads maintenance, waste collection, home care, burial services and schools.
Workers have been previously notified that if they did not accept the offer by November 9 last year, then Argyll and Bute Council would take the necessary steps to impose the deal by February 18. This action may include the dismissal and re-engagement of workers.
A statement from Unison stated: “In the event that the council is not prepared to enter into constructive negotiations with the unions over single status, this will be followed by further phases of industrial action, up to and including an all-out strike.
“The Argyll and Bute branch is working to achieve a fair local settlement for our members, in the face of Argyll and Bute Council’s failure to enter into constructive negotiations, and attempts to impose its proposals to the detriment of all employees.”
Unite regional industrial organiser, Tony Devlin, said: “It is disappointing that we have reached this stage, as we have consistently asked the council to get around the negotiating table with the unions to reach a settlement. However, they have repeatedly rejected our offers to discuss the issues facing our members and they instead callously chose to threaten our members with dismissal if they didn’t accept the changes two weeks before Christmas.
“The leaders of Argyll and Bute Council should be ashamed of this and should sit down with workers and the trade unions immediately to reach a mutually agreeable settlement.” Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: “We have been informed that from a total of 1,762 Unison members, 27 percent voted for industrial action and only four are planning to take strike action on Thursday 17 January. These figures do not show a high level of support for the action.
“We are disappointed that our commitment to deal with our obligations in terms of equal pay and the fairest settlement we could provide within the funding resources available seems not to have been accepted by the local branch of Unison. However, we will do everything possible to ensure that public services are not affected.”


Cycling star dies after collision
A Lochgilphead-born cycling champion died on Tuesday after colliding with a van in Fort William whilst training.
Commonwealth Games competitor Jason MacIntyre, 34, who broke Scots cycling legend Graham Obree’s 10-mile time trial record last year, was taken to hospital after the accident but died of his injuries.
Mr MacIntyre, who was a printer, leaves a wife, Caroline, and eight year-old twin girls.
He moved to Fort William when he was ten years old and although he didn’t take up cycling until he was 18, he quickly progressed in the sport, winning the Tour of the North in Ireland five years later, at the age of 23.
In 2002, he was selected to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He has also won the British 25-mile time trial twice and was the first Scot to win the British Circuit race time trial championship.
Mr MacIntyre, who trained up to 35 hours a week, was looking forward to the new season, writing on New Year’s Day on his website: “Having made it through Christmas and now New Year, albeit overfed and overweight, I’m looking forward to January and 2008 to see what it brings.”
Northern Constabulary’s road policing section carried out a full investigation at the scene of the accident, Carrs Corner on the A82.
A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.


STRACHUR OUT OF HOURS MEETING HAILED A SUCCESS
Strachur Memorial Hall was the venue on Wednesday for a well attended drop-in session to discuss planned changes to out of hours medical services in the Strachur medical practice area.
The event follows on from a stormy public meeting in late November, hosted by Strachur and District Community Council, at which NHS Highland faced a barrage of searching questions on their options for cover, and criticism over a perceived lack of consultation with the local community before the options list was drawn up.
NHS Highland subsequently revealed that its preferred option for out of hours emergency cover is to provide cover from the Tighnabruaich medical practice with effect from February, and Wednesday’s session was intended to provide an opportunity for local people to discuss any concerns and find out more about the proposed changes.
Organised by NHS Highland, the event featured staff from Inverness-based NHS24, the Scottish Ambulance Service First Responder Scheme, Tighnabruaich Medical Practice, and a display of plans for Dunoon Hospital’s new community casualty department.
More than sixty people attended the four-hour session, and speaking afterwards NHS Locality Manager for Cowal and Bute, Viv Smith, said: “I think this event has been very successful. I must have spoken to about fifty people, and it was good to get an idea of people’s concerns.”
“I think the majority felt reassured, but there are still some people with understandable anxieties about the changes, and we need to listen to and address these.”
Very much a work in progress, arrangements have still to be finalised on finding a suitable consulting space in Strachur, setting up an effective communications system and mapping out the area for the Tighnabruaich GPs.
Viv Smith added: “Work is progressing rapidly. We have already formed our local working group, which was set up to help ensure a smooth transition to the new system.”
Also present at the Memorial Hall was Derek Leslie, Director of Planning and Performance with NHS Highland, who commented: “Since the option for GPs to opt out was introduced in 2004, the provision of out of hours services has presented huge challenges to NHS Highland.
“In our area, access and pace of response are big issues, and the solution here lies in working closely with all related services, including the Scottish Ambulance Service, in providing a safe, efficient and sustainable service to people across the Highlands.”
Members of the public at the drop-in event raised various issues with NHS personnel, with the main worries concerned with emergency cover, contingency plans when roads are blocked for any reason and patchy mobile phone coverage.
Viv Smith commented: “We are preparing our contingency arrangements at the moment. Discussions have been held with the local working group, and their views will be fully considered as part of this process.”
Doctor Carle, of the Tighnabruaich Medical Practice, said: “We fully understand the worries and concerns of people in Strachur district. We went through the same process ourselves a number of years ago, and it is natural that folk will want to hear about the nuts and bolts of how this is all going to work.
“This is a recognised model for out of hours cover, which is used elsewhere in the NHS Highland area, and our main concern is to provide a safe, efficient service to patients.”
A similar drop-in session is to be held next Thursday (January 24) at Kames Village Hall between 3pm and 7pm to answer any concerns which local people, currently served by the Tighnabruaich practice, might have about their own services under the new out of hours arrangements.