NOT JUST HOT AIR?
Hovercraft returns to Clyde
This week Clydefast performed a three day hovercraft trial on the River Clyde with a view to bringing this mode of transport back to these shores for the first time since the mid 1960s.
The trials were intended to determine what impact, if any, the introduction of such a service would have on other river users. It also gave interested investors and local authorities the chance to experience for themselves what a hovercraft can offer in terms of alternative transport.
Speaking at the Dunoon leg of the trial, on Tuesday morning, Alistair Macleod, Chief Executive of Clydefast, said: “We are very excited about the test and indebted to Glasgow City Council, Riverside Inverclyde and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) for making the trial possible. It will hopefully demonstrate the potential for a permanent hovercraft operation to be brought to the Clyde.
“The service will be fast – for example a service from Dunoon to Glasgow will reach the city centre in 52 minutes (during the time trial it took 49 minutes), over 20 minutes quicker than the present journey time of an hour and a quarter, by train and ferry. Rothesay will be included in a permanent operation which would add a further 15 minutes to the journey.”
He added: “Another bonus in using the hovercraft would be its ability to navigate through bridges which don’t open. Some of the current Clyde bridges restrict catamaran ferries getting directly to the city centre, particularly at the Broomielaw.
“It was regrettable, however, that better facilities for landing the craft on the beach at the Coal Pier were not provided. It was planned to run a number of demo trips from Dunoon but in the absence of a gangway to connect from the pier to the beach this was not possible.”
A decision on whether or not the service will be given the go-ahead should be made within six to nine months and, if it gets the green light, then it will be fully operational hopefully within a further year and a half.
Initially, the plan is that there will be two craft, each carrying up to 130 passengers, and these craft would run every hour in the morning, then every hour-and-a-half during the day. In year two, a further craft will be added to the fleet and the service will run hourly throughout the day.
Mr Macleod says that although the hovercraft will be slightly more expensive (approximately £1 dearer) than the current means of getting to Glasgow city centre on public transport he believes that the service will be warmly welcomed. “It’s an iconic attraction for tourists, the public will be bowled over once it arrives,” he said. “Because there is no wash, the hovercraft can go up river faster than conventional methods, cruising at approximately 25 knots, and will get right into Glasgow city centre in well under an hour. Travelling from Dunoon to Greenock will also be quicker, taking only 14 minutes.
“One of the advantages of the hovercraft over a fast catamaran would be its ability to navigate through the Arc Bridge in Glasgow. This would allow a service to reach the city centre at the Broomielaw. The hovercraft planned would have an air draft less than the 5.4 metre restriction at high water.”
At this point, one angry onlooker shouted from the car park, above where the hovercraft had landed. “We don’t want a hovercraft, we want a ferry.” The woman then demanded to know: “What about a ramp for wheelchairs, how will wheelchairs get off?”
Mr Macleod calmly explained that this particular hovercraft (a twelve-passenger Griffon 2000TD) was being used purely for the trials and once the service was up and running all the craft would have a ramp for wheelchairs as well as toilets on board for disabled people.
Argyll and Bute council leader Councillor Dick Walsh said of the plan: “As far as I am aware we, the council, are not directly involved with the trials. I have received communications from a Mr Macleod who I understand is carrying out the trials supported by SPT as part of a wider initiative in their strategy looking at fast passenger services on the Clyde that will link up towns on the Clyde with Glasgow etc.
“I understand that Mr Macleod has had for a number of years now ambitions for running fast passenger services on the Clyde. I am not aware of any of the details between him and the SPT and the survey currently underway other than for the feasibility to establish the suitability of this type of vessel.
“I understand that there are problems with landing facilities and approaches have been made to the council on this. I am awaiting detail on the outcome of discussions with our officers on this.”
Cowal councillor Bruce Marshall was upbeat about the idea of having a hovercraft service back on the Clyde after 40 years. He said: “I am really excited with the development this week of the Clydefast hovercraft trials on the Firth and upper Clyde. The fact that these trials are being financed by SPT gives this venture enormous credibility.
“I understand that speeds of 28 knots were achieved last Friday between Port Glasgow and SECC Glasgow without any appreciable wash which might concern the Port Authority. We are now talking about a time of 52 minutes from Dunoon town centre to the centre of Glasgow, this will be a great boon for commuters and also could be very beneficial for Dunoon town centre retail sector.
“I believe there is huge potential for fast craft of this type to open up our waterways on the Firth of Clyde; we are light years behind our continental neighbours in the efficient usage of this fabulous resource and I wish Clydefast and Alistair Macleod well in this new venture.”
On Monday, Dunoon Community Council held its regular meeting, and as the hovercraft trials had featured prominently in news reports that day, the matter was added to the regular agenda.
Gordon McInnes said: “This idea has great potential and could be a great summer attraction. When the Commonwealth Games take place, or if there are major golf championships in Ayrshire, this could open up all sorts of possibilities. It could be of great benefit to the town.”
However, Ronnie Smith - a seasoned campaigner on the Gourock-Dunoon ferry issue - sounded a note of caution: “I am not opposed to a hovercraft service as such, but we need to remain focused on the fight for a town-centre to town-centre ferry service.
“This might provide a political excuse to remove a ferry service from Dunoon Pier - and that gives me great cause for concern.”
Others at the meeting queried the cost of journeys compared with the existing rail option. In addition, questions were asked about what sort of time saving might be achieved, given the speed limits imposed at some points on the River Clyde and time involved for embarking and disembarking passengers at each of the vessel’s ports of call.
Two lucky passengers on the return trip to Ferguson’s shipyard in Port Glasgow were retired Loganair pilot Captain Claire Roberts and her husband Chris.
Mr and Mrs Roberts, from Innellan, were invited aboard due to their backgrounds and were extremely impressed.
On their return to Dunoon Mr Roberts said: “It was very smooth, comfortable and quiet. I have worked as an engineer on many hovercraft and was very impressed with this one. I know that this particular craft was being used for trial purposes but I think the service would be a valuable one to the community and I for one, would relish it.”
Whether the service is given the go ahead or not, and whether the two year timescale is realistic, depends on a number of factors including the relevant councils, the wrangles over landing locations and funding; who knows public feeling may even have a say in the outcome.


GLEN KIN CENTRE TO CLOSE
Trust says “sign of the times” - closure unavoidable
Glen Kin Outdoor Centre - for many years a popular venue for school trips and Guide/Scout activities - is to be sold.
Following acquisition of Glen Kin Farm, near Dunoon, the Glen Kin Trust was constituted in 1978 to administer the Glen Kin Outdoor Centre, with the stated aim “to provide for young people a centre for outdoor recreation, occupation or other leisure activities where they may apply their practical skills and find comradeship and joy, all to the improvement of their conditions of life.”
Volunteers
The conversion of the farm and outbuildings took several years, with the majority of the work undertaken by the 24th Argyll Scout Troop. Since then, the ongoing maintenance of the centre has been carried out by a small group of local volunteers.
The centre comprises sleeping accommodation for up to 24 people plus a barn with kitchen and indoor recreation facilities, set in countryside suitable for camping and a range of other outdoor activities.
It has been used over the years by Cowal Scout and Guide troops and for school visits, as well as by other organisations from outwith the area, but over the past year the trust says it has received only three bookings from local youth groups.
Rising costs
This factor, combined with rising repair and running costs and increasing health and safety requirements, led the trust to reconsider the centre’s future over the last several months. This review period culminated in a meeting on March 1, when members of the trust and management committee agreed to put the Glen Kin property up for sale.
However, the decision to sell has been met with both criticism and sadness.
Given the downturn in the number of youth groups using the centre, the trust had, in the last two or three years, opened up use of the centre to adult organisations - and one such group has expressed its concerns over the trust’s handling of the property and the decision to sell.
Unique
The 9 Waves Tai Chi Group - which has members based in the central belt and also in Cowal - claims that the trust has not been sufficiently proactive in looking for other ways of increasing the centre’s income.
“The trust has not tried new approaches nor has it promoted the centre effectively,” said Rob McNee, an Innellan member of the tai chi group. “It says that there is a downturn in demand, but it hasn’t advertised and its website is out of date - how can people find out about what Glen Kin offers?
“This is a unique and irreplaceable facility, and I am extremely angry and upset that the groups which use it - most of which have little money to start off with - will be losing out. There must be alternatives other than getting rid of it.”
Potential
Local Guide leader Muriel Rann has been both a user and a trustee of Glen Kin for several years. She told the Observer that the prospect of sale is, for her, “heart breaking”.
“I’ve seen the good that Glen Kin has done for so many years - streetwise, precocious kids revert to acting their age without peer pressure in that environment - it happens time and time again,” she said. “If you give up an asset like this, it can never be replaced, but it’s all down to rising costs and not enough income.
“I’m passionate about the place and it has great potential. If someone has a good idea about saving it, I’d love to hear it.”
Hard work
Paul Wilson is the caretaker for the Glen Kin property, and while he too says he will be sorry to see it go, he points out that the task of providing an outdoor centre has become increasingly difficult as the demands of legislation become more onerous and costs spiral upwards.
“It’s been a great resource, but it’s had its time - it would take a lot of work and a tremendous amount of money to bring it up to the required standard,” he said. “It’s more and more difficult to get assistance locally in terms of maintenance and costs.
“The centre is being used, but the income generated is just not enough. The trust and committee have looked at all possible alternatives, and this is the very last option.”
Pev McChlery is a member of the management committee for Glen Kin and said: “My gut reaction is that I would like to see it kept going - I don’t want to see Cowal lose this facility - but it is the trustees’ decision.”
Reluctant
The trust’s chairman, Scott Bryson, said: “This decision has not been taken lightly, after almost forty years of providing the Glen Kin outdoor facility on a voluntary basis.
“The trustees and committee faced a very difficult choice and reluctantly have to initiate the sale of Glen Kin.
“There seems no future from continuing to provide a facility with ever-increasing costs and an ever-decreasing demand from local youth groups. Grants are available, but sustainability is in question.
“There is also the risk that any development would result in a major increase in the rental charges, providing another deterrent for youth uptake.”
Mr Bryson advised that dissolving the trust and distributing the money realised from the sale to other charities was not an option, as there would be no further benefit accruing to the local area and its young people.
Legacy
Instead, the trust is looking at a solution which will continue to provide longer-term benefits for the young people of Cowal.
“The aim is to sell the premises, continue the trust and set up a foundation through investment of the assets in a trust fund,” he said. “The interest could provide support for travel, scholarships, courses, training, equipment and other facilities - this would enable groups and individuals to develop a wider range of skills and experience on a continuing basis.”
He concluded: “An outdoor centre like Glen Kin may not be viable in 2008, but we hope that the legacy of the Glen Kin Trust will continue for many years.”
It is understood that bookings for the centre will be accepted at least until the end of June.


Hostel students still out in the cold
The situation for students affected by the closure of Dunoon Grammar School Hostel appears no closer to resolution yet as the end of term approaches.
At a meeting in February, angry parents from Tighnabruaich and Lochgoilhead expressed their concern at the lack of answers, stating that the daily travelling to school was taking its toll on pupils academically, emotionally and socially.
At that stage, the council confirmed that one accommodation option was in the process of being reviewed.
However, in a statement to the Observer this week, the council has now advised: “There are no premises that currently meet all the requirements and we are discussing how we might take this forward with the Care Commission.”
A spokesman for the Care Commission said: “We are currently undertaking a request from Argyll and Bute Council to register two properties they have identified as alternative accommodation options for Dunoon Hostel.
“As these have not previously been used as a care service, they have to undergo a full appraisal and assessment to ensure they are safe for children to use.
“We have requested further information from both Argyll and Bute Council and the local fire service to help us with our final decision.”
He added: “We fully understand the sensitivities and concerns this issue is causing parents, but our aim always is to ensure safety. In this case, our decision will be based around the need for us to be totally sure that the premises are safe and comfortable for use by children.”
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue stated that it continues to work alongside the council and the Care Commission in endeavouring to find a solution.
The frustration was further exacerbated this week as the bus which takes Lochgoilhead students to Dunoon could not access the village due to snow - meaning that pupils had to miss a day of school.
One parent blasted: “We knew the weather was going to be bad today so why did the council not clear or grit the road before the bus was due to come in?
“Surely the council should get its act together and get the roads cleared to allow the kids to get to school - is this asking too much?”
She continued: “My daughter, like many others affected by this, is sitting her exams in May and should not be missing classes.
“This whole scenario has now turned into a big joke - everyone is very sympathetic but no one seems to be doing anything.”
In response to the road-clearing issue, a spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: “The weather forecast we received on Sunday stated icy conditions for that evening and Monday morning. As a result, gritting was carried out in Lochgoilhead between 16:30 and 17:40 hours.
“On Monday morning we received a report that the weather was not as predicted and it was in fact snowing in Lochgoilhead. We immediately attended and the road was cleared at 9am.”
Other issues raised by parents at the February meeting included the provision of transport to allow students to attend supported study and extra curricular activities, and to receive confirmation in writing that the hostel would reopen following the programme of upgrading works. The council stated: “We are providing transport for supported study and, where possible, for extra curricular activities.
“We can also confirm that parents have been written to, confirming that the hostel will reopen.”


FERRY PRODUCTIVE!
The ferry issue is never far from the pages of this newspaper, and this edition is no exception. It’s fascinating to some and frustrating to many, but regardless of your level of interest in the matter, there’s no escaping from the fact that ferries are a major feature and a significant part of life on the Cowal peninsula.
Developments
However, over the last two weeks, there have been some interesting developments: the government’s announcement of a Road Equivalent Tariff pilot scheme in the Western Isles, a feasibility study on a waterbus service linking Cowal communities with Glasgow city centre, and hovercraft service sea trials.
The momentum continued this week as the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (TICC) committee visited Dunoon on Tuesday as part of its ongoing inquiry into Scottish ferry services.
The inquiry is seeking the views of ferry users all over the country with particular regard to routes, frequency and timetabling of services, capacity and integration with other modes of transport.
The committee members who visited Dunoon were MSPs David Stewart (Labour, Highlands and Islands) and Shirley-Anne Somerville (SNP, Lothian).
They met with both CalMac and Western Ferries to discuss operational issues, and the clerk to the committee confirmed that both operators had been asked to provide written submissions which would be considered formal evidence for the inquiry.
Dunoon Community Council had invited various other community representatives - including community councillors from around Cowal and members of Pier Pressure - to meet with the panel in the Queen’s Hall for an informal session.
Encouraging
Following the meeting, Ann Gabriel, chair of Dunoon Community Council, commented: “All those present were of the same mind - that what we need is a vehicle and passenger service serving the two town centres.”
Ronnie Smith, who is a member of both Dunoon Community Council and Pier Pressure, stated: “They were seeking both views and information from us, and listened very patiently and asked a lot of pertinent questions, so from that angle it was an encouraging discussion.”
Norma Murray, of Sandbank Community Council said: “Our views were certainly listened to, there’s no doubt about that. I was really there to make the point that whatever happens in Dunoon affects everybody in Cowal.” South Cowal Community Council has prepared a written submission to send to the enquiry.
Partnership
There have been several indications of late of the Cowal communities working in partnership with their counterparts “across the water” in Inverclyde, and Tuesday was no exception: Margaret Doak, of Gourock Community Council, affirmed: “We support everything that the local community has been calling for - Gourock would come to a standstill without the ferry service. We don’t want to see a monopoly on this route.”
Informative
David Stewart told the Observer: “What was very important is that we talked to local people and operators about the day-to-day issues of using and running a ferry service. It’s been a very informative day.
“The inquiry is looking at the wider issues of how ferry services can operate more efficiently - it’s not about criticising existing companies but looking at making it a better service for service users rather than focusing on service providers.”
He confirmed that the committee’s role is to provide a check on government activity, and that it will subsequently be making representations to the Transport Minister in Parliament, as well as seeking a response to some of its findings.
With regards to the Gourock-Dunoon issue, he said: “Clearly this is an issue of vital importance and what is coming across very strongly to me is the importance of having both car and passenger transport to Gourock, and on a more frequent basis, as well as having two operators.”
Delivering
Meanwhile, Professor Neil Kay met last week with Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson and local MSP Jim Mather, following Mr Stevenson’s visit to Dunoon in January.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service, and Professor Kay advised that he had been invited to meet with the politicians in a personal and professional capacity, given his expert evidence and research background.
He told the Observer: “It has been firmly established that what the communities want is a frequent vehicle and passenger service between the two town centres. It’s no longer about finding out what communities want, but delivering it - and I intend to continue to make these points both in private and in public.”
Jim Mather subsequently commented: “It was a very productive meeting and I am grateful to Neil for his insight.
Productive
“As a result of the meeting we have agreed to keep up the momentum and continue to work together to deliver a service which meets the needs of local users and the economy.”
He continued: “To my mind, that means confronting the European Commission and proving that a more frequent vehicle and passenger service is required to link the two town centres - for that is the only way that local people can get a robust and reliable enough service to persuade many more people to invest their lives and their cash in the area.”