KINTYRE INITIATIVE WORKING GROUP held in TOWN HALL, CAMPBELTOWN on MONDAY 26 AUGUST 2002 at 10.00 a.m.
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Paul Alison, Anne Howell, Maureen Macmillan, Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock, Jamie McGrigor, Ivor Roberston, Tom Pedersen, Derrick Lang, George Lyon, Councillor Donald Kelly, Laurie Sinclair, Councillor Alasdair Blair, Susan Paterson, Shona Anderson, Murdina McDonald and Dave Petrie.
2. MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2002 were approved.
A letter has been received from BEAR Scotland regarding the A83 at Erines, Tarbert informing the group that Mr. Ronnie MacKenzie at their Killin Office is the route manager for the A83 and any correspondence should be addressed to him. It was agreed that a letter should be written to BEAR enquiring where the Erines job is on the programme and how expenditure on roads maintenance is determined.
The issue of Japanese Knotweed was discussed and it was agreed to ask the Area Committee to ask S.P.C. to take this up.
3. A.I.E.
No report available.
4.1 AIRSHOW
A letter concerning the Airshow from Steven Dott of AIE to Jim Martin was circulated. Jim Martin continues to work on the project but a big problem is sponsorship and also getting new people involved in the Airshow group, because he considers that the Airshow needs to rely on the gate money to make up the deficit in potential grant funding. Based on attendance at the last Airshow, this seems reasonable. It was agreed to write to A.I.E. about this.
The Group decided it would be beneficial to obtain the figures for the year 2000 Airshow from the Museum of Flight. A letter from Shona Anderson was read to the Group advising that Shona was now employed at Vestas Celtic and would be unable to attend future meetings but was still continuing to work on the Airshow group.
4.2 LOGANAIR
Figures circulated to group. It was decided to write to Loganair to ask for clarification on punctuality percentage.
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Monthly figures attached to this minute.
The P.S.O. was discussed and it was agreed that Paul and Deirdre did an excellent job on the paper.
4.4 DEFENCE ESTATES
No report available.
5. FERRY ISSUES
Campbeltown – Ballycastle ferry service. A letter was circulated about the service from Andrew Maclaren of the Scottish Executive transport division. It was agreed to write concerning the last paragraph about what other options are available and invite Mr Maclaren to come and talk to a future meeting of the group. The timescales were discussed again and it was agreed to enquire who is doing the consultation referred to in the letter. It was agreed to ask the MSPs to pursue this letter and the issues it raises.
Tarbert- Portavadie service The group was informed that the carrying figures are now only available annually and that we have requested to receive them.
Consultation Document on ferry services An appropriate response will be sent from the group taking into account the following matters:- Concessionary fares were discussed and it was agreed that these should be available for mainland routes to all with concessionary passes.
It was decided that the Scottish Executive should intervene after 24 hours if there was to be a failure in service and not 7 days as suggested in the document.
Who is the regulator – This needs to be clarified. The group did not think that this burden should be placed on civil servants.
The timing of the Tarbert to Portavadie Ferry was raised and this service should be altered by 15 minutes to suit passengers from the Islay ferry that arrives at 12.15pm.
A later ferry to Gigha on a Friday was discussed to help with weekend tourism.
Councillor McKinlay advised that the 7.15 a.m. Campbeltown to Glasgow bus did not get you to Kennacraig in time to catch the tour on a Wednesday for Islay and Colonsay.
The facilities at piers were raised and it would be beneficial to have a telephone at Portavadie and also waiting areas and toilet facilities at each pier.
6. FARMING ISSUES
Ian Fawcett spoke on his report on silage and intimated that there is a scheme running at a small cost. Ian Fawcett to advise the N.F.U on Landfill Tax . Jim Martin advised the group that at present a man from Dumfries travels to the Campbeltown area to individual farms to collect silage wraps.
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7. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The reply from Ofgem and a letter from Scottish and Southern Energy plc were circulated and it was agreed to write to David Densley to invite him to a future meeting to discuss renewable energy issues.
Ian Fawcett advised that it was agreed at the Area Committee Meeting that there would be a special collection in rural areas on a twice a year basis for residents to dispose of bulky items at no cost. It will be advertised in local shops and a letter sent to all the Community Councils advising of the dates. It was agreed that when the men were doing the uplift compost bins and green sacks should be available to sell to the public.
8. TOURISM No report available.
9. COUNCIL ISSUES
Roads Resurfacing is taking place on the B842 Carradale and also in the Campbeltown area which includes Ralston Road, Limecraigs Road and St. John Street.
The proposed crossing point in Main Street has been scrapped and re-assessment of traffic management scheme is taking place in Campbeltown. This will go out to consultation over the next 2 years.
The pavement between Stewarton and Campbeltown was discussed, as the grass etc. is now so long that people are getting soaked. This is the same on the Campbeltown to Glasgow road.
Jim Martin raised a concern about the fence at the two new houses which have been built at Drumore now causing a blind spot when turning into Gobagrennan Road. This will be checked with planning.
Saddell Abbey
The opening ceremony took place on 23 August. It was agreed that the Saddell Abbey project was a very good facility. There is however no disabled access and the chairman will report back about this.
10. EMPLOYMENT ISSUES Les Howarth advised the Group that to date 112 people are employed at Vestas Celtic. Out of the 112 , 87.5% are local.
Vestas Celtic now requires skilled coded welders, which they may have to bring into the town in which case housing will be required. Keyworkers houses were discussed and it was agreed to write to the Director of Housing and Fyne Homes on this matter. It was also suggested that the some of the former RAF houses could be rented directly to Vestas Celtic, as employers often take this course to ensure they can attract the required employees.
F:\moderngov\data\published\Intranet\C00000243\M00000869\AI00005295\MinutesofKintyreInitiativeWorkingGroup26August 20020.doc 3 of 5 11. EDUCATION ISSUES Susan Paterson had put in her apologies to the meeting but sent an e-mail advising that Argyll College and Community Education are signing people up now to all sorts of classes in South and North Kintyre. Classes will start in mid September.
12. WATER
George McMillan pointed out that drains had been choked in Longrow and Main Street even when it was low tide and Councillor McKinlay enquired as to how we were in this situation after spending all this money on the project. Duncan Aitken from Scottish Water informed the group that the transfer system had not been working properly so a build up of sewage and silt had occurred but Scottish Water were totally committed to getting it sorted. He advised that the wrong pump had been installed but the correct one will be installed now.
The Group learned from Scottish Water that a boiled water sign on Gigha was put up as a precaution. The new membrane plant had had a fault but this has now been rectified and the notice was lifted on Saturday24 August.
13. A.O.B. Maryann Stewart advised that 14 organisations would benefit from the Healthy Living Centre whose bid had been successful and she asked for special thanks to be recorded to John Semple for his work in preparing the bid.
She also informed the group that SCRO checks on people who would be working with children and vulnerable people, would now be done centrally and this would take place in Stirling. It was agreed that not everybody could travel to Stirling for the day and it was suggested that a letter be written to ask if they can come to Kintyre to do the checks.
Swimming Pool
Planning permission for the new community facility should be in by the end of this month with funding applications being lodged then too.
Community Regeneration and Rural Economies leaflets were circulated for information.
Vestas Celtic will be holding an open day on Saturday 28th September 2002 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
14. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – The date of the next meeting will be held on Monday 28th October at 10 a.m. in the Town Hall, Campbeltown.
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SEDERUNT KINTYRE INITIATIVE WORKING GROUP 26 AUGUST 2002 Name Organisation
George McMillan Campbeltown Traders Association Aileen Brown Campbeltown Courier Duncan Aitken Scottish Water D. MacKinnon Argyll and Bute Council Douglas Roberston Tarbert & Skipness Community Council Catherine Ralston S.A.R.I. Alan Reid M.P. John Paton West Kintyre Community Council Ian Macintyre Tarbert Harbour Authority Maryann Stewart A.C.V.S. Paul Convery Argyll and Bute Council Ian Fawcett Argyll and Bute Council Leslie K. Howarth Vestas – Celtic W.T.L. Alastair McKinlay Argyll and Bute Council Martin Gannon Argyll and Bute Council John Semple C.A.K.E. Deirdre Forsyth Argyll and Bute Council Linsay MacPhail Argyll and Bute Council
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