Bullwood sewage plans approved
Government decision condemned as “beyond belief”
A planning appeal by Scottish Water Solutions for a waste water treatment plant to serve Dunoon at the former Bullwood quarry has been upheld by Scottish Ministers.
Argyll and Bute Council had originally refused Scottish Water Solutions planning permission for the sewerage treatment works and ancillary development at the site south of the town. Following an appeal by the utility company to the Scottish Government, a public local inquiry was held by Scottish Government Reporter Karen Heywood last September.
A four-day hearing was held at Innellan Village Hall as part of the inquiry at which a number of local groups and individuals were represented, including the Bullwood Residents Group and South Cowal Community Council.
Following site visits, a report by Ms Heywood recommending approval of Scottish Water Solutions’ planning application was prepared and submitted to Scottish Ministers last month, and a letter formally notifying interested parties of the decision was issued last Tuesday (April 14).
The decision has been met with disappointment by many people in the southern part of Cowal, with the main objection focusing on the severe limitations on space within the quarry.
The report submitted to Ministers indeed makes reference to this very point, with the Reporter stating in paragraph three: “I note that the works have been designed to accommodate growth allocated in the finalised local plan (192 houses) and an additional 40 houses.” The report goes on to state: “If the works could not be upgraded or some other provision made to accommodate future growth in excess of that allowed for, there is a danger that once the [232 additional houses] have been developed, there could be a brake on development in the area.”
Forbes Pearson of South Cowal Community Council said: “Our attitude to these proposals has not changed since our original submissions to the inquiry. Dunoon needs a new sewage plant, but it doesn’t need to be beside the main road to south Cowal.
“I would also say that it is probably a mistake to put the works in a site which is not capable of expansion.”
A spokesman for Scottish Water Solutions said: “We welcome the Ministers’ decision to uphold Scottish Water’s appeal against the refusal of planning permission for this work. It is a step forward to improving the environment in and around Dunoon for our customers.
“In light of this decision, we are now assessing project delivery timescales and working on other related planning applications for pumping stations in Dunoon. We are also finalising the necessary budgetary arrangements to deliver the scheme.
“Scottish Water remain committed to working with the community during the construction of this facility and will provide updates in due course.”
Dunoon Community Council was unable to comment at this stage, with the matter due to be discussed at their next meeting in early May.
The decision of Ministers is final, though there is the opportunity for any objector to apply to the Court of Session within six weeks of the decision.
Bullwood resident Roy Taylor commented: “For the Scottish Government to allow Scottish Water to spend millions of taxpayers’ money on an unsuitable and unexpandable site is beyond belief.”


‘DON’T PANIC’ WARNING OVER FUEL
Workers at Scotland’s only oil refinery will go ahead with a planned strike after talks between the Unite union and plant bosses at conciliation service Acas broke down on Wednesday.
Ineos, the company which operates the Grangemouth refinery, has warned that the plant could shut for around a month, and warned of fuel shortages.
About 1,200 members of the union intend to strike on 27 and 28 April in a dispute over pensions.
Unite has described Ineos’ proposals to change pension scheme provision as “unreasonable”.
The Scottish Government has advised the Scottish public that there is no need to ‘panic buy’ fuel in the run up to Sunday’s strike.
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: “What we are confident about is that we have taken preparations to make sure that there are ample supplies of petrol and diesel available well into the month of May and that’s obviously predicated on consumer purchasing patterns remaining as we would normally expect them to be.”
Despite Mr Swinney’s words of advice, purchasing patterns in Argyll appear to have changed.
One filling station owner in Cowal said on Thursday: “Our fuel sales have doubled in recent days. We got a delivery earlier this week, but this was less than we would usually get, and our supplier can give no guarantee if and when we will get another.
“If we keep going this way, we will sell out of unleaded petrol by Monday, but this also depends on the stocks in other filling stations in the area.”


Cautious welcome for European ferry probe
Last week’s announcement that the European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into subsidies paid by the Scottish Government to CalMac and NorthLink Ferries has received a broad welcome from local politicians as well as a private ferry operator on the Firth of Clyde.
Complaints
As reported in last week’s edition of the Dunoon Observer, the commission announced last Wednesday (April 16) that it was opening formal procedures to investigate state aid payments following complaints by ‘third parties’ about subsidies paid by the Scottish Executive to the Scottish ferry companies NorthLink and CalMac.
In a statement, the commission said: “The decision to open the formal procedure does not prejudge the final view the commission will take once its investigation has been completed. It is addressed to the UK, which is given two months to file a reply.”
No support
Argyll and Bute MSP Jim Mather said: “This investigation will hopefully get to the bottom of years of complaints over the way first the UK Government and then the Labour and Lib Dem Executive ran Scotland’s ferry services.
“Labour and the Lib Dems consistently failed to give the European Commission the information they needed to show that Scotland was complying with EU rules. There was no support from Labour in London to fight Scotland’s corner and instead of facing a commission investigation now this matter could and should have been resolved years ago.
“Ferry services are vital in Argyll and Bute and importantly the commission has accepted that running costs of lifeline services can be supported by the government.
“The SNP Government has made a commitment to resolving the problems faced by Scotland’s ferry services, piloting RET and working to solve the disastrous mess left behind by the Lib Dem and Labour Executive over services between Gourock and Dunoon.
“We now need a guarantee from London Labour that they too will support Scotland’s ferry services.”
Lifeline
Local MP Alan Reid has called for a speedy conclusion to the European Commission investigation, saying: “Ferry services are a lifeline to many of the communities in my constituency.
“The commission claims that this investigation will not threaten the continued provision of these essential, lifeline services. Nevertheless, I hope that the investigation will be concluded quickly, and Scottish ministers must work closely and constructively with the UK Government and the European Commission to ensure that there will be no disruption to these vital services.”
Paralyse
“Hopefully this investigation will establish once and for all what is and is not legal in terms of CalMac on the Firth of Clyde”, said Ronnie Smith of the Dunoon Pier Pressure Group. Mr Smith continued: “I just hope we get a solution at an early date. My fear is that a long delay might paralyse government and could result in Dunoon Pier becoming non-operational before any decision is taken.
“I do believe though that the fundamentals of EU law are on our side here.”
Gordon Ross, Managing Director of independent ferry operator, Western Ferries, commented: “Western Ferries welcomes the announcement of a formal European investigation; at long last there will be transparency, accountability and hopefully the resolution of the anomalous situation on the Gourock to Dunoon route.
Fair
“In our view there is no doubt that CalMac’s vehicle service between Gourock and Dunoon, supposedly provided on a non-subsidised basis, has improperly received several million pounds of taxpayers’ money over the years. Furthermore the availability of unlimited amounts of subsidy have allowed CalMac to engage in unfair pricing activities, for example using taxpayers’ money to offer massive discounts to hauliers in order to compete against Western Ferries.”
Mr Ross continued: “Hopefully this investigation will also establish an environment where open and fair competition within the Scottish ferry sector can flourish.
“Looking forward, this investigation may well open the door for other remote and island communities to benefit from competition, innovation and improved services.”


BANDS TOLD TO PIPE DOWN
EU chiefs have upset pipers across the world by introducing a new law limiting noise exposure to 85 decibels.
The move, imposed by Brussels, will mean that pipers will either have to tone down, wear ear plugs or risk breaking European Union health and safety rules.
The rules, which are part of the ‘control of noise at work’ regulations introduced by the Health and Safety Executive following the directive, will also limit practice without earplugs to just 15 minutes a day. This move has angered some pipe chiefs who fear that this will affect performances in competitions and events.
Speaking about the announcement Jim Prentice, Pipe Major of Dunoon Argyll Pipe Band said: “Obviously we won’t ignore this ruling but there will be a revolt over this. I can’t see how they can make this happen.
“I can understand their thinking with regards to indoors. We, however, have very good acoustics in our hall which help absorb the noise. I don’t see how they can enforce the ruling outdoors though.
“I will certainly encourage all band members to wear ear plugs but it’s voluntary; I cannot make them.
“I have been playing in pipe bands for 47 years, and worked on the runway at Glasgow Airport and it has not done me any harm. If the situation is as bad as it is being made out to be, then pipe majors and senior players all over the world should be deaf - and I don’t know of any that are.”
A typical pipe band plays at 122 decibels outdoors, which is louder than a pneumatic drill (100 decibels) or a rock concert (120 decibels) and only a few decibels quieter than a Boeing 747 (130 decibels).