KINTYRE INITIATIVE WORKING GROUP held in COUNCIL CHAMBERS, TOWN HALL, CAMPBELTOWN on MONDAY 30th OCTOBER 2006 at 10.00 a.m. Councillor Donald Kelly opened the meeting by welcoming and thanking everyone for attending the October Meeting of the Kintyre Initiative Working Group. He extended a welcome to all the MSP’s, and Shirley Bannatyne from Visitscotland. He wished Aileen MacLennan all the best in her new job and thanked her for all her attendance at past meetings. 1. APOLOGIES Apologies for absence were received from Eleanor Scott MSP, Jobcentre Plus, Sheena MacAlister, Alan Reid MP, Catherine Ralston, Les Oman, Contact 4 and Diane MacLeod Visitscotland. 2. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting held on 28th August 2006 were approved. The presentation on Yellow Book was taken first. A copy of this report is available from Linsay MacPhail on 01586 552366 or email [email protected]. The Area Committee will be discussing the report at their next meeting with a view to including the necessary expenditure within the capital programme 3. FERRY INITIATIVES Councillor Donald Kelly stated his disappointment at the recent announcement from the Northern Ireland Office to withdraw funding for the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry service. He asked all the MSP’s their views on this issue. Jim Mather MSP advised that he has just returned from Ireland where they have a real appetite for the link on the Irish side. The strategy is to go back to the EU and say £200 million should be upgraded to let West of Scotland take part in that. £300,000 seems daft and it does not take a great economist to work out that travel increase this would soon recover that sum. George Lyon MSP intimated that Northern Ireland Office UK Ministers had decided to withdraw. Sinn Feinn had information and had briefed Radio Ulster at the time when Transport Minister had not even received letter. It is nonsense considering their under spend last year was in £millions. They seem to be hiding behind the initial study from HIE which demonstrated that N.I. would have no economic benefit, although this had later been disputed. He advised the Group that Alan Reid MP has taken this up in Westminster and it may be linked with getting Stormont back up and running. The next step is that Allan Macaskill Leader of the Council and George Lyon will visit Northern Ireland. The key action is to ensure political parties will overturn the decision not to fund the ferry. Jamie McGrigor MSP has written to Transport Minister about this issue. He advised that he has put it into the hands of David Cameron and David Mundell. He suspects that the withdrawal of the ferry service monies is being used as a lever to get Stormont up and running. A letter from Maureen McMillan MSP stated that it was purely on financial grounds, nothing to do with Stormont. Councillor Donald Kelly stressed the importance of all the MSP’s working together on this. It was agreed that the Group would continue to lobby all MSP’s, MP’s etc. Page 1 of 5 4. UPDATE ON INITIATIVES/PRIORITIES AND THEMES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING Dunfermline Car Club – Dunfermline Car Club are still pursuing funding for holding a forest rally. Campbeltown to Machrihanish Railway Walk – A meeting has now taken place with members of Laggan Community Council now going to speak with landowners. Fessenden Project – No update. Westport – Wild Camping on site is being addressed and a new fence and gate have been erected. It is hoped that the Council will create an area for an interpretation panel. Opportunity Kintyre – A facilitator is being recruited. Banner Project – Sample banners were shown to the Group. It was agreed that the context on the banner could be in darker print. A further meeting of the Sub Group will take place. Mull of Kintyre Pipe Band Championships – Councillor Donald Kelly advised the Group that a meeting of the Sub Group has now taken place. The next step is to decide a date and location. 5. INITIATIVES/PRIORITIES AND THEMES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS It was suggested that the A83 Tarbert to Campbeltown should be a World Heritage Route similar to “Route 66” in the USA. It was agreed that this would be an initiative that should be worked on. 6. UPDATE/REPORT ON NEW GOLF COURSE Councillor Donald Kelly advised that an announcement on the new golf course should be made shortly. It is hoped that the Royal Hotel and Ugadale at Machrihanish will be developed next year into self-contained apartments. 7. VESTAS It was reported that there have been no redundancies to date at the Nacelle Division of Vestas with the Tower Section also going well. It was agreed to invite a representative from Vestas to join the group. 8. CAMPBELTOWN AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE ITEMS a) Loganair Ltd – No report available. b) Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd – Derrick Lang reported a quiet period at the Airport with figures showing a slight decline but an increase if Military figures are taken into account. The introduction of a Saturday flight was discussed between Campbeltown and Glasgow. It was agreed that this would be beneficial and that the PSO should be extended to include a Saturday. Deirdre Forsyth to pursue this issue with Stuart Turner and Charles Reppke. c) Defence Estates – Alan Reid MP continues to raise questions at Westminster on community financial support when MOD Machrihanish is sold. Page 2 of 5 9. FARMING REPORT/INITIATIVES Councillor Rory Colville advised the Group that the Rural Business Ring has reached the end of a 2-year pilot project with a change to the management structure so that they will now be working with Highland Business Services. It is hoped to keep the Campbeltown Office open with Mary Ackroyd continuing to work part time. 10. TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES TARBERT/A83/CAR PARKING Letter circulated to the Group from George Lyon MSP and Malcolm Reed Transport Scotland, copies of which are attached to this minute. Councillor John McAlpine thanked the Group and George Lyon MSP for continuing to support traffic calming measures in Tarbert. Ian Macintyre advised that he had no update on the East Pier but George Lyon MSP stated he was meeting with the Harbour Authority today. 11. WRITTEN REPORTS FROM COUNCIL SERVICES, JOB CENTRE PLUS, ARGYLL COLLEGE, JAMES WATT COLLEGE AND A.I.E. Council Services – No report available. Jobcentre Plus – There are currently 38 Female and 111 Male unemployed. Argyll College – No report available. James Watt College – No report available. A.I.E.- Figures for September were circulated and are attached to this minute for information. 12. TOURISM/LEISURE INITIATIVES/KINTYRE WAY Shirley Bannatyne advised the Group that from 1st April to 15th October 2006 the Campbeltown Office was up by 7% with UK visitor enquiries and up 2% on overseas visitor enquires. Tarbert for the same period were up 9% with UK visitor enquiries and up 12% on overseas visitor enquiries. She intimated that June figures were slightly down again due to the World Cup. The Mull of Kintyre 10K and Airshow had helped the area immensely. The issue of windfarms effect on tourism was raised but no negative response has been received on windfarms in the area; she was of the view that a tourist attraction could be made out of these windfarms if bus trips were provided for visitors to see them up close. Kintyre Way – John Bakes intimated to the Group that things were progressing well on the Kintyre Way with more leaflets being distributed. 54 Business to date have signed up to advertise on the website. Signage was discussed. 13. SCOTTISH WATER REPORT A brief report was circulated to the Group a copy of which is attached to this minute for information. It was announced that Scottish Water would be having an Open Day for the public from 4pm to 7pm today (30th October). The Group agreed it would be beneficial if as many of the MSP’s present could attend the Open Day. Page 3 of 5 14. A.O.B. A list of next years dates were circulated. The dates for next year are as follows: Monday 5th February 2007 Monday 11th June 2007 Monday 27th August 2007 Monday 29th October 2007 Monday 10th December 2007 15. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – Monday 11th December 2006 at 10.00 a.m. in the Town Hall, Main Street, Campbeltown. Page 4 of 5 SEDERUNT SHEET KINTYRE INITIATIVE WORKING WORKING GROUP 30 OCTOBER 2006 Name Organisation Donald Kelly Chairman, Councillor - Argyll and Bute Council Deirdre Forsyth Argyll and Bute Council A. McKinlay Councillor – Argyll and Bute Council Rory Colville Councillor – Argyll and Bute Council John Bakes Southend Community Council Gordon Caskie West Kintyre Community Council Shirley Bannatyne Visitscotland Leslie K Howarth Leslie K Howarth Consultancy George Lyon M.S.P. – Argyll and Bute Ian Y Macintyre Tarbert and Skipness Community Council Aileen MacLennan Campbeltown Courier John McAlpine Councillor – Argyll and Bute Council Jamie McGrigor MSP – Highlands and Islands Jim C Martin Campbeltown Community Council Kevin Williams Argyll and Bute Council Derrick Lang H.I.A.Ltd Jim Mather M.S.P. – Highlands and Islands Linsay MacPhail Argyll and Bute Council Page 5 of 5 .