NO TRUCE IN PARK WAR
ANY notion that peace was about to break out following last week’s decision by Bute and Cowal Area Committee to turn down the extension for Hunter’s Quay Holiday Village was certainly misplaced.
In the aftermath of the decision, which the park’s owners have promised to contest, neither side was taking any prisoners; however, the man taking the bulk of the flak was undoubtedly Councillor Bruce Marshall whose unstinting defence of the planned expansion has angered community councillors and residents in both Sandbank and Hunter’s Quay.
The secretary of Hunter’s Quay Community Council, Gibb Thomson, said: “It was made perfectly clear to Councillor Marshall what our views were, and he made no attempt to put them forward, or even to make it clear that his own opinions were far removed from the community council.”
Mr Thomson said: “There are already in excess of 30 additional vans on this site, which were put there on the assumption that retrospective planning application would be granted, What happens to them now? Are they to be removed, and if so, how is this going to be explained to their owners?”
He also took issue with last week’s statement by the park that it had never caused a problem for its neighbours.
“That’s crazy,” he said. “It’s far from being the truth. They stripped away all the rhodondendrons and vegetation from the hill in front of the park and, because they failed to put any drainage in place, rainwater now pours off the hill. They also closed off Renfield Lane - how can they say that the park has never caused a problem to us?
“The notion that it can become half as big again is also a worry. You’re talking about a potential caravan population of up to 5,000 people which is not much smaller than the population of Dunoon.”
He concluded by insisting that the future of Cowal and the Dunoon area in particular was dependent on attracting the right sort of people. “There’s a lot of excellent high-quality housing being built here, he said. “That’s the way ahead for this area, not more caravans.”
Cllr Marshall also came under attack from Sandbank Community Council, whose chairwoman, Norma Murray, also accused him of failing to reflect local views in his presentation.
The area committee’s decision to turn down the expansion pleased The Woodland Trust. A spokeswoman commented: “The proposed development forms part of the original Hafton House estate. The woodlands are valuable in the green space they provide for local residents and visitors alike. They are also of high conservation value. Studies have shown they are home to a number of Pipistrelle bats, a protected species, and red squirrel. Any loss of woodland and tree cover would be detrimental to their population.
“The council’s decision is to be congratulated, as it sets a precedent for the conservation and enhancement of Scotland’s natural heritage. Ancient woodland takes centuries to evolve and is of high conservation value. Such habitats contain more threatened species than any other natural environment and are reservoirs of evidence for environmental change.”
Andrew Fairbairn, Development Manager said: “The woods at Hunter’s Quay are a monument to our natural heritage, home to protected species such as red squirrels and bats, a place for recreation and reflection. Woodland environments need to be conserved not destroyed. The Councillors in taking such a decision have accepted responsibility for preserving our natural environment and we wholeheartedly support their stance.
“Ancient woodland now only covers one percent of Scotland’s land area. Argyll and Bute contains around ten percent of Scotland’s remnants of ancient woodland. The Trust congratulates the council on its commitment to protecting this diminishing resource.”
Councillor Marshall was unapologetic, saying that he had pledged his support for local business in two elections, and the council had made the same pledge. “The local economy,” he said, “cannot survive on the service industry alone.”
Asked about any potential conflict of interest, he said: “Reaching a decision on controversial planning applications is the hardest task we councillors face in the course of the work we do, especially in the face of sustained public opposition. We are, of course, aware of the concerns expressed but we are also made aware of support for development which affects the area in which we live and finding a balance is extremely difficult.”
But he was not without his supporters; backing him was Craig McBurney, manager of Loch Eck Caravan Park, who happens to be an arboriculturalist. Mr McBurney put pen to paper to complain about the ‘double standards’ by those bodies and individuals who are objecting to the expansion of the holiday village, but are supporting housing developments in the area which have removed trees. He also draws comparisons between the National Park’s track record of providing employment in the area with that of Cowal Leisure, and voiced concerns about the impartiality of the planning process.


Veterans march through Dunoon
A PARADE of veterans from the regimental association of the county’s own regiment, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Dunoon and Cowal Branch) marched through Dunoon on Saturday. They were supported by members from Stirling, West of Scotland, Inverclyde as well as Royal British Legion members from Dunoon, Larbert, West of Scotland, Ardrossan and the marchers were accompanied by the Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band.
The parade was led by Arthur Cairns ably assisted by John McDiarmid and Robert Bell.
A total of 180 veterans marched from Jane Villa car park to the Arch next to the Cenotaph, also paraded were 25 Standards from the various organisations including three from the Regiment.
At the Arch a short welcome was given by Councillor Jimmy McQueen on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council, followed by a history of the connections to the area by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Donald McDiarmid, and finally a prayer was given by the Rev Joe Stewart. The parade then marched past the Deputy Lord Lieutenant who took the salute, he was flanked by ex-members John MacLellan and Val Witherow who served with the First and Eighth Battalions of the regiment.
The regiment has a long and illustrious history; its Battle Honours include:- Cape of Good Hope, Vimiera, Tolouse, Peninsula, Balaklava - the famous Thin Red Line, Sevastopol, Lucknow, Modder River, South Africa 1899-1902, In World War One - Mons, Le Cateau, Ypres, Loos, the Somme Arras Cambrai and in World War Two - Odon, Sidi Barrani, El Alamein, Longstop Hill, Italy, Crete and Malaya 1941-42, Korea 1950-51.
Since the First World War the Argylls or members of the regiment have fought in every conflict involving the British Army and just this week the new Territorial Company has been called up for action in the Middle East, and almost to a man and woman everyone volunteered.
The regiment has won a total of 16 Victoria Crosses with six being won on the same day on 16th Nov 1857 at Lucknow, one of the last was won by Lt Col Lorne Campbell for his actions in Tunisia in 1943.


Reid questions legality of parking restrictions
QUESTIONS are being asked over the legality of the parking restrictions recently put in place on the streets of Dunoon by Argyll and Bute Council - and if the orders are proved to have no legal standing then in could have serious consequences across the whole council area.
A meeting of Alexander Street residents on Sunday night decided to challenge the council’s parking restrictions on their street.
The meeting was held in the house of George and Morven Banks who are among many residents irate at the council for making the seaward side of the street a no parking zone. This says residents, will create problems where none existed before.
The meeting was attended by local MP Alan Reid, and Milton Councillor Gordon McKinven, both of whom are backing the residents’ campaign to have the restrictions lifted.
Councillor McKinven apologised for failing to put a stop to the restrictions. “I fought for something to be done about areas of the town like Hill Street, where real problems existed in terms of access for emergency service vehicles. I didn’t pick up on this simply because it never crossed my mind that there was any intention on the part of council officers to put restrictions on Alexander Street.
The main concern among residents was the lack of information provided before the restrictions were put into place. The advertisement placed by the council in the Observer was non-specific and simply said ‘various streets’. It was hardly surprising that it had attracted scant public interest. Comparisons were drawn to the level of information regarding road closures at the Gathering which was much more comprehensive. This been raised with a Roads Department official, and the explanation was that the Gathering was a ‘special case’.
There were also concerns that it would have a detrimental effect on road safety; by banning parking on one side the road had effectively been widened, thus encouraging traffic to move faster. This put at risk children trying to cross the road between tightly packed cars, and also made exiting from driveways on the seaward side extremely difficult and hazardous.
Alan Reid said that there were questions over the legality of the order. There were a number of mistakes in the advertisements used to promulgate the order, and he believed it might be possible to challenge its legality. However, the complicating factor was that this would have to be done retrospectively and this might be difficult.
There was a further factor to consider, he said.
If the order was illegal, then it could have serious ramifications not just in Dunoon, but throughout Argyll and Bute.
He suggested that it would be necessary to get legal advice on the issue.
Cllr McKinven said that he was already pursuing that avenue, and hoped to have a qualified opinion on the legality of the order by the middle of the week. He shared Mr Reid’s view that the council was unlikely to give unbiased advice on the matter.
He had been in touch with Argyll and Bute’s legal department but was still awaiting a response, which he felt was odd, since they normally replied fairly quickly. He hoped they would reopen the issue and expected that all four Dunoon councillors would come under pressure to press for this to happen.
He had sent letters to all the residents of Alexander Street outlining the position, and was hoping that they in turn would write to the council and object to the way that this had been handled.
The fact that the lay- by opposite Dunoon Police Station had also been treated with double yellow lines was commented upon; and a report that the painting programme had come to a halt because they had run out of paint elicited the comment: “no wonder”.
There was comment about the enthusiasm with which the lining was being carried out, specifically at the lay-by at the police station, which now sported double yellow lines. Since the specific purpose of lay-bys is for parking, this particular piece of council artwork has caused some puzzlement.
The council was accused of creating a problem where none had previously existed. No-one had seen a written statement of the reasoning behind the restrictions, only a photocopied map.
One resident said that she had asked where she was expected to park her car; the response was: “That’s not up to us.”
Another resident pointed out that anyone who wanted to create a driveway to get their car off the road faced a bill of £1500 from the council for lowering the pavement.
Mr Banks said that he had spoken to the bus company who had no problems with the road; neither, as far as he could establish, had the fire service.
He had the impression that they had simply looked at a street map and drawn yellow lines on it.
Mr Reid pointed out that many families had more than one car, and it was time that the council moved into the 21st century.
The meeting concluded with the suggestion from Mr Reid that as many residents as possible should register their feelings in writing with Argyll and Bute Council, and that a complaint be made to the Local Authority Ombusman.
A council spokeswoman said on Wednesday that Mr Reid’s views had been brought to their attention, and they were currently looking at the situation.
The painting of double yellow lines in the lay-by had been ‘an error’.


And then there were two . . .
......The tendering process for Dunoon- Gourock hit yet another shoal this week when V-Ships, widely regarded as the outsider in a three-horse race, announced that it was pulling out of the process because “we are not sufficiently comfortable to continue any further on the Gourock-Dunoon route and are unable to advise our shareholders with sufficient confidence that we could compete on a level playing field.”
This leaves just two companies in the running, CalMac and Western Ferries.
Argyll and Bute MSP George Lyon condemned V-Ships’ decision saying: “I am astonished that V Ships have suddenly announced that they are withdrawing from the tendering process claiming that it favours Caledonian MacBrayne.
He said: “Argyll and Bute Council have confirmed to me that V Ships have never made contact with them to discuss access or charges for the pier at Dunoon; therefore, it would appear that VShips never had any intention of bidding for Gourock/Dunoon in the first place.”
Western Ferries confirmed that it remains interested in the process.
Gordon Ross, Managing Director, Western Ferries said: “We are sympathetic of V Ships’ position regarding the issues around the commercial invitation and respect their decision to pull out.
“We have been working this route for thirty years. Over that time we have learnt to deal with CalMac’s unfairly subsidised service and its knock-on effect on our business. We are looking forward to a level playing field for all operators on the route.”
The Scottish Executive was putting a positive spin on the news. A spokesman said: “The Executive remains committed to the Gourock-Dunoon route and £2.5m of public subsidy per year is testament to that fact.
“We are disappointed that V Ships have withdrawn from the tender process. However, tendering Gourock -Dunoon is required by Europe and we have no choice but to continue, or the Commission could step in and halt the current service.
“The current tender is to establish whether a commercial ferry service released from the existing restrictions on CalMac would be viable. If that proves not to be the case then the Executive is committed to re-tendering with passenger subsidy.”
None of this impressed Professor Neil Kay, one of a group of local people who have been pressing for a better service to the peninsula.
He said: “I predicted as soon as the shortlist for the tender was announced that there was no chance of getting a bidder out of it, and V Ships’ announcement that it is withdrawing is just the first sign that this will be proved right.
“The tender is designed to prevent any bidder coming out of the process, and unless they are completely incompetent, the Executive must have known this. For instance, there’s a requirement for bidders to demonstrate by the end of next month that they have concluded several contingent contracts with VesCo which does not exist.
“What will now assume even greater significance is the Executive’s six private meetings with Western in 2004 and 2005 to discuss Western’s User Charter, which is contingent upon there being given a monopoly of vehicle-carrying services Gourock-Dunoon.
“These discussions took place a time when the Executive’s public position was that they were going to put the route out to competitive tender.”
He concluded by demanding that The Executive disclose the content of these meetings “if the last vestige of public trust is not to be destroyed, and they must do so as a matter of urgency.”