Anger at Striven ships
DESPITE saying in April that two vessels at most would be laid up in Loch Striven later this year, Clydeport has allowed four large container ships to move in within the space of a week - to the horror of residents on both shores of the tranquil Cowal inlet.
Thursday June 25 saw the arrival of the first two ships - the SI Performance and the Maersk Beaumont - with two others lurking ominously close to the mouth of peaceful Loch Striven.
‘No Ships’
They had moved into their new home by Monday - to be welcomed by ‘No Ships’ carved in giant letters into the overlooking hillsides, leaving no doubt about the feelings of their new neighbours.
Residents now fear, and rumours abound, that several more redundant commercial vessels will soon be joining the four unwelcome visitors - and Clydeport has so far failed to give any public reassurance otherwise.
Nor, it seems, is the port authority willing to explain the apparent turnaround regarding its proposals for Loch Striven - with its public comments decidedly at odds with its actions. And despite extensive questioning, Clydeport - through its Glasgow-based public relations company - has issued only a very brief statement about the activity in Loch Striven.
Timeline
The Standard exclusively revealed in April that Clydeport was in the early stages of talks regarding the layup of redundant commercial ships in the Cowal waters.
At that point, a spokesman said that “at most two container vessels” may be located in the loch and that no timescale was in place.
The next sign of activity was the appearance late in May of three large ships lying at anchor in the Clyde - with internet ship tracker sites giving their destinations as Loch Striven.
However, Clydeport told the Standard that the vessels were fully crewed and ready for service - adding that “they may go to Loch Striven later in the year.”
Last week saw another ship arriving and the four vessels then moving closer to Loch Striven - but emailed questions sent to Clydeport’s PR company on June 23 and numerous follow-up telephone calls went unanswered.
However, given that the Maersk-owned SI Performance and Beaumont moved into the loch just two days later, it is surprising that no information was available - assuming that relocating two sizeable vessels requires a degree of advance planning and logistics.
Plans
A number of detailed questions sent to Clydeport’s spokesman this week included a request for comment on the company’s apparent reluctance to provide any information about these operations and why there had been a change from ‘at most two’ ships. The company was also asked when the decision was taken to send the vessels to Loch Striven, what has happened to the full crews said to be on each ship previously, what consultation was undertaken with local people and other agencies, and details of personnel on board and maintenance while they are in the loch.
Of key importance to local residents, though, is whether there are plans to send any more vessels to the loch - and if so, how many, when and how long will they remain there - and such information was requested from Clydeport.
Brief
However, the company issued only a brief statement in response, saying simply: “The current economic downturn has had a particularly severe impact on global shipping. As a result, around ten per cent of the world’s merchant fleet is in lay-up.
“From time to time, going back to the 1970s, vessels have been moored in sea lochs on the west coast due to their sheltered locations.
“The four vessels currently moored in Loch Striven have been located in full compliance with the Harbours Act. The ship owners are monitoring the demand for these modern vessels and are obviously keen to have them back in service as part of their fleet as soon as possible.”
No consultation
Local residents are extremely angry about Clydeport moving the ships into their neighbourhood without consultation.
Mary Lamb told the Standard: “There are four ships basically moored at the bottom of our drive.
“They are lit up like Christmas trees, with bright blaring lights, and the noise is terrible.
“We had no communication whatsoever from Clydeport - the first thing we knew about it was when the first ship turned up.”
She added: “If I wanted to put a summerhouse in my garden I would need to consult with my neighbours and the council - but Clydeport don’t have to, and now we have these great hulking ships right in front of our homes.
“We are concerned about the noise, about possible pollution, about the effect on wildlife.
“I am very upset about this - it is intruding on our privacy.”
‘High-handed’
Writing in Safety Valve this week (see page 8) Inverchaolain residents Henry Radcliffe and Marion Read have said that Clydeport is being ‘high-handed’ adding: “The engines have been running constantly since their arrival and we are experiencing sleep disturbance and headaches as a consequence.
“Clydeport has already shown little regard for the residents or the environment.”
Others have expressed their concern in more obvious ways - with two huge ‘No Ships’ signs inscribed in fields and hillsides bordering the loch.
The road to the loch was certainly busy on the day of the first ships’ arrival, with visitors going down to see for themselves.
Beauty
One local man said: “Why are we letting these eyesores into our lochs when we are trying to promote Scotland as a place of beauty? How will this encourage tourists?”
Another woman commented: “This area really is unspoiled - after we passed the fuel depot, it’s like another world and is so peaceful, until you turn the corner and see these huge ships. It’s hard to understand the reasoning behind it.
“It’s OK for others who just come down to have a look at the ships out of curiosity, but I do feel sorry for the people who live right next to it.”
Remove
Local politicians share the concern of the residents. MSP Jim Mather, currently on holiday, is understood to be taking action on the issue, while MP Alan Reid said: “This is totally unacceptable in an area of outstanding beauty. It is nonsense that Clydeport has the power to allow these ships to be moored here indefinitely. I have written to both UK and Scottish Transport Ministers and urged them to use any powers they have to remove Clydeport’s right to allow ships to be moored in Loch Striven and to have the ships removed immediately.”
Cllr Ron Simon has also written to Clydeport (see Safety Valve). There is some reassurance for concerned locals in the response that he has received, which states: “Reports that in excess of 20 vessels will be moored in Loch Striven are factually incorrect. The actual number is likely to be in the region of five or six.”
Eyesores
Cllr Simon said: “I am extremely disappointed about this, particularly since tankers had been left as rusting eyesores in the loch previously for over 20 years.
“It is particularly disappointing that Clydeport has not really answered the questions.
“Although it claims that only half a dozen ships are destined for the loch and not the rumoured 20, I would still argue that this is half a dozen too many. I will continue to pursue the case for the early removal of these ships.”
Clydeport’s letter to Cllr Simon also indicates that the duration of layup is envisaged to be “months rather than years.”

Dunoon Sheriff Court
Dunoon Sheriff Court heard the following cases last week:
Assault
Being goaded was no excuse for punching another man on the face, Nathan James Chapman was told by Sheriff Carol Kelly.
The court heard that Mr Chapman (20) of 94 John Street, Dunoon had been at a house in Argyll Street with the man and others in the early hours of January 22.
Following a short verbal exchange, Mr Chapman punched the man on the side of the face. After being restrained and asked to leave the house, Mr Chapman was later arrested by police.
The offence was committed while on bail granted at Dunoon Sheriff Court on November 19 last year.
Defending, solicitor Graeme Wright said: “It is obviously not acceptable behaviour, but he was understandably annoyed at remarks made to him and felt that he had been goaded. He lost control.”
This cut no ice with Sheriff Kelly, who said: “This is a serious matter, particularly given the fact that you were on bail. You should have been clear about your obligation to keep out of trouble, and it is concerning that you respond in this way to being goaded.
“I am imposing a community service order of 80 hours as an alternative to custody. Failure to comply means you will come back to court and leave me little alternative about how to deal with you.”
Theft
21-year-old Joseph Phillip Derek McAllister appeared from custody to plead guilty to two charges of theft.
Mr McAllister, formerly of Room 4, Claymore Hotel, Wellington Street, Dunoon had stolen a total of five bottles of wine from a supermarket in Queen Street, Dunoon on March 19.
Procurator fiscal David Webster told the court that a shopper had alerted store employees that two bottles of wine had been stolen. CCTV footage identified Mr McAllister, who was wearing distinctive clothing.
Later the same day, it was discovered that three more bottles were missing.
Mr McAllister was observed entering the same store a few days later and was subsequently arrested by police.
The total value of the alcohol stolen was £21.75 and none of the bottles were recovered.
Defence lawyer Ruben Murdanaigum told the court that his client was currently in custody at Glenochil following sentence at Campbeltown earlier this month. He added: “He has asked me to apologise to the court and to please deal with this matter today so that his date of release is unaffected.”
Sheriff Kelly imposed a custodial sentence of two months on each charge, to be served concurrently from June 25.
Bail
A former Lochgilphead man received his ‘final chance’ following a contravention of bail conditions.
Darren William Newlands Steele (18), is now resident in Oban but at the time of the offence lived at the town’s 33 Highbank Park.
The court heard that bail had been granted at Dunoon on January 28, including the condition that Mr Steele remain at his home address between the hours of 7pm and 6.30am.
However, on March 14, police officers who called at his home at 7.30pm found that he was not at home.
Defending, Ruben Murdanaigum asked for a final chance for his client: “He has shown a lot of potential for improvement and has been out of trouble for some time.”
However, Sheriff Kelly made it clear that this was indeed a last chance: “There have been a number of bail aggravations and I find this kind of behaviour an example of someone simply flouting the authority of the court.
“Your final chance is a community service order - and this is a direct alternative to custody.
“I have no doubt that you have the potential to do all that your solicitor claims, but it is really up to you.”
Mr Steele was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Breach of the peace
A Lochgilphead woman was found guilty of breach of the peace following an incident at her home address earlier this year.
50-year-old Patricia Ann Wilson, of the town’s 38A Lochnell Street, pled guilty to conducting herself in a disorderly manner, shouting and swearing and breaching the peace on February 3.
She was sentenced to 80 hours’ community service.

CLACHAN FLATS WIND FARM - THE FIRST GLIMPSE
A great deal of space has been devoted to the issue of wind farms in the pages of this newspaper over recent weeks, months and years.
The debate over the siting and concentration of these developments carries on, with the latest controversy surrounding the Dunoon Wind Farm, planned for the hills behind Ardnadam.
One wind farm development which has already been approved by Argyll and Bute Council and which has now almost reached completion is the Clachan Flats Wind Farm, situated above Clachan, Cairndow, on the hills between Loch Fyne and Glen Shira.
The company behind the Clachan Flats scheme, Scottish Power Renewables, offered the Dunoon Observer and Argyllshire Standard the first official tour of the scheme, and we accepted the offer.
The visit was arranged for a June Thursday morning which dawned damp and dreich and remained misty for most of the day. Not great weather for viewing wind turbines on a hilltop, but we persevered nonetheless.
Hosting our visit was Derek Christie, Marketing and Communications Officer for Scottish Power Renewables and Allan Macdonald, site agent with construction company Morgan EST.
The site is accessed using a purpose-built road starting in Glen Shira, with the road snaking through forest plantations and up the hill for more than four miles before reaching the brand new nine-turbine wind farm.
Each of the newly-constructed 1.65kW turbines has been going through a commissioning programme in recent weeks, ready to begin generating electricity by the end of the summer. All cabling from the turbines is underground, and Scottish and Southern Energy (formerly Scottish Hydro Electric) is upgrading the electricity distribution network nearby to accommodate the wind farm.
No matter your stance on the wind farm debate, these turbines are impressive.
Sturdily built on a base made up of 250 cubic metres of concrete, the Alstom turbines stand 93 metres high to blade tip, with a tower height of 56 metres.
According to Scottish Power Renewables, the nine turbines will produce 15MW of energy, enough to power over 8,000 households.
The engineering and construction skill is there for all to see, but that aside, the very fact that these giants are being built in our Argyll countryside is the subject of ongoing debate.
Objectors fear that our hills are shortly to be peppered with wind turbines; sited in the wrong locations and allowed planning permission with little joined-up thinking. There are government financial incentives available to wind farm developers, and current policies encourage the pursuit of renewable energy projects.
Derek Christie commented: “There is some financial incentive, but we would never pursue a project in the wrong place or any development which does not stand on its own merits.
“It is worth remembering that the money paid by wind farm developers allows landowners to reinvest, and this is particularly important for large estates.
“In addition, we have worked alongside ALI Energy (Argyll, Lomond and the Isles Energy Agency) for the past three or four years, and currently support an education officer post.”
Mr Christie is also keen to point out the responsible approach taken by his employer in developing renewable energy sites. “We don’t build a wind farm or anything else without involving the community first.
“Communities also benefit financially, and Clachan Flats community trust will receive some £12,000 per annum for local use.
“There is a lot written about wind farms, but we talk to local residents from a very early stage. We don’t try to change opinions, but just give people the facts.”
The fact is that Clachan Flats is far from being the worst site for a wind farm from a visibility perspective. It is reasonably well hidden, though in plain view from the A815 at Ardno and from the Hell’s Glen road to Lochgoilhead. The turbines are also visible from the Strathlachlan area, though further distant.
The visual impact of this small (in relative terms) development may be minimal locally, but there are at least three other proposed wind farm developments in a ten mile radius, and it remains to be seen how they will interact visually.
Since construction on the site began in March last year, there has been a good deal of local involvement. Allan Macdonald has been impressed with what he has seen of local contractors, particularly George McNaughton and Son of Lochgilphead. He commented: “McNaughton was involved with creating roads and building turbine bases. The firm’s experience in building forestry roads and previous involvement with wind farm work was invaluable.
“They have an excellent safety record, which is of paramount importance on modern sites, and we would highly recommend them.”
Mr Christie added: “Wind power is only ever going to form part of the solution to the UK’s future energy needs. We are involved with preliminary investigations for offshore wind farm developments known as the Argyll Array, off Tiree, and we are working with ALI Energy on the Sound of Islay tidal wave farm, which is a really exciting development, given that tides are predictable and constant.”
He added: “The future for renewables is exciting, and Scotland is leading the way.”

Accolade for young DYFL players
Dunoon Youth Football League has been serving the community for almost 30 years with considerable success - and its achievements were rewarded with a presentation from Bute and Cowal area committee.
DYFL has had a particularly good season in the last year, with three players signing for major Scottish teams, and a trip to Germany.
The area committee wanted to honour the hard work and efforts of players and organisers, and did so with a special presentation at its meeting in Dunoon on Tuesday June 23.
Committee chair Cllr Bruce Marshall outlined the history of the organisation, saying: “This is a voluntary organisation which was established 28 years ago to provide all young people from the Cowal peninsula with the opportunity to participate in structured football and coaching. A group of concerned parents decided that if the majority of young people were to get the opportunity to play football then the local community would have to provide it.
“The object is to give three to 17-year-olds the chance to enjoy football and to improve their standards regardless of their skills, and there is a current membership of 200.”
He continued: “The club enters seven-a-side teams for under-11s in the Greenock and District League, while the older children compete in the Paisley and District and Glasgow and District Youth Football Leagues.
“In January 2007 DYFL employed a part-time football development coach, Paddy McAlees to further develop the existing coaching facilities and administration of the club.
“DYFL is constantly looking at ways to improve and recently achieved the SFA Quality Mark, introduced football camps for during school holidays, a mini kickers programme for three to five-year-olds and is also offering football to girls of under 14. The girls’ team already has 20 participants.”
Cllr Marshall added: “The club has recently been successful in obtaining a grant of £100,000 from Sportscotland to allow them to extend the existing clubhouse to provide a reception area and four separate lockable changing rooms with their own toilets and showers, and this area committee provided £15,000 to assist with the cost.
“I understand that the new building will be up before the Cowal Games. The new facility will greatly increase the capacity to host matches, organise tournaments, properly accommodate girls’ and young women’s teams, provide coaching sessions and develop football as a physical activity for young people.
“The club is still looking for a further £65,000 to complete the building and I understand the Scottish Minister for Sport will be visiting DYFL some time in July.”
Handing over some cash collected from local councillors for club funds, he concluded: “We wish to give this small offering to assist them to continue to bring back young footballing honours to Dunoon, but I do appreciate it is only a drop in the ocean compared to the help from local businesses.
“I understand that to enable the club to compete in Germany this year, a sum of £14,000 was required. A local businessman put in £1,000 which was soon followed by others and in no time the amount of £14,000 was exceeded.
“I wish the club the very best success for the coming season.”
DYFL’s 2008/9 season’s honours are:
* U13s winning Greenock and District League, and reaching the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.
* U10s undefeated in Greenock and District League (non-competitive).
* U12s reaching the top three in the same league.
* U15s and U16s in top three in Paisley and District League.
* U13s player Kjeld McIntyre and U18s Laura McArtney signing for Glasgow Rangers Football Club.
* Lewis Strapp of the U10s signing for Kilmarnock FC.