RESPONSE HIJACKED
FERRY TENDERING PROCESS RESPONSES
Unless "The Corncrake" is much mistaken, the overall response seems to have been distorted in a manner which should cause concern. It looks as if organised submissions may have been made, whereby the Turkeys are supposed to have voted for an early Christmas. For details, read on… and remember, you saw it here first!
196 responses were sent to the Scottish Executive in response to the request for comment on the draft tender document. A summary of the responses has now been received through a third party. "The Corncrake" has not as yet had access to the original material on which the summary is based.
Dirty work at crossroads?
Nearly every submission was clearly intended to be for the good of the business as a whole, namely the delivery of Hebridean Lifeline Services, but one lobby has successfully registered a wilfully destructive interest. To achieve this result, strong SUPPORT was apparently expressed for the continuation of a form of Haulier Rebate. Readers will recall that this huge subsidy is entirely restricted to routes on which individual hauliers make literally hundreds of crossings per year, effectively preventing any new competitor from getting started and at the same time ensuring that a substantial publicly-funded subsidy is focussed on the routes which least require it. There is no mechanism to transfer the benefit to the end-consumer and one would welcome any evidence that it is in fact used for any purpose other than pocket-lining.
It seems highly unlikely that this response could possibly be genuine and one has to hope that the Scottish Executive will scrutinise the credentials of those involved - it simply screams for investigation. If it transpires that any sort of collusion or combination has occurred with a view to the exploitation of a monopoly situation, there will hopefully be a case for legal intervention.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise seem to have got wind of this barefaced campaign to shower cash upon a limited number of favoured hauliers and in their submission have called for the COMPLETE ABOLITION of haulier rebates. Instead, they have called for the enormous sums involved to be re-allocated to reduce Commercial Vehicle rates for ALL users, across ALL routes.
Colonsay Community Council and Colonsay Development Company will hopefully discuss this important issue as a matter of urgency. Incidentally, CalMac took a neutral position in its own response to the question when it was raised in the consultation document: "The Company confirms that it is reviewing its arrangements in relation to its current commercial vehicle discount scheme and an announcement of a revised regime will be made shortly."
Local interest
Most other submissions were not very startling - for example, every single local authority requested that Vesco should have it headquarters in their area. Most people wanted more frequent / cheaper services. Entertainingly, Argyll & Bute Labour Party want Vesco to be set up using Railtrack as a model, since they are keen on the "not for profit" concept. Western Isles Council want catering supplies to be purchased from local retailers. Many people are interested in effective transport integration.
Some Colonsay-relevant submissions are noted below, but do less than justice to the actual contributions:
Argyll & Bute wants an investment programme to upgrade passenger facilities across the network. They also want a parcel service for Colonsay, Coll and Lismore, and for the 50% discount on livestock to be extended to include live fish. Rhoda Grant MSP wants a specific service to suit Colonsay schoolchildren at weekends, and Colonsay Community Council wants freight-forwarding and a "drop-off and collection service" for passenger baggage. George Lyon MSP and Alan Reid MP want mobility issues addressed, hand luggage restrictions lifted and a trolley service to get luggage on and off vessels.
Clyde Shipping Advisory Committee suggests an annual charge for Vesco, as opposed to a sliding scale on usage, to stimulate service levels for the isles.
Mobility and Access
A number of respondents drew attention to problems of mobility and access; the M & A Committee for Scotland made a specific submission, but it was a bit woolly. Colonsay Community Council can claim the credit for what little provision was made in the draft tender document, having been the first body to even raise the issue. Interested parties will need to monitor developments carefully.
Welcome to Belshazzar's Feast
Submissions by almost two hundred agencies and individuals included some which were confidential, but many were made in an open way. It is therefore public knowledge now that a total of at least four companies are interested in the tender process. Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. has declared itself to be a definite contender, Red Funnel Group Ltd. has revealed that it is seriously preparing a bid, Serco-Denholm has made a response which indicates commercial interest and Clydefast has expressed concern about the contract period, currently proposed to be only five years.
THE LATE JACK CURSITER
Islanders were sorry to have learned of the passing of Jack Cursiter on Saturday 18 November, at Duntochar. Jack was the son-in-law of Dugie MacGilvray and father of Iain Cursiter and Flora, wife of Iain MacConnell; he was highly respected and had many friends in Colonsay - deepest sympathy is extended to his family in their sad loss.
FIRE AT DRUMCLACH
A chimney fire broke out on Monday evening at Drumclach, when Mrs. Hemmings was alone in the house with her young daughter. Fortunately it did not last for long, but it was a great comfort that there is such an efficient and well-equipped Fire Brigade on the island. Members of the Brigade attended promptly, but were quite pleased to go home again since it was a miserable night; an inch of rain fell in less than an hour.
Residents and visitors are reminded that in any emergency they should CALL 999 FIRST - this number should be used for Fire, Police, Accident and Coastguard. The response centre will alert vital personnel using bleepers and radios as well as by telephone.
UP TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON
Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that investigations are continuing into an alleged attempt to carry undeclared dangerous goods on a ferry to Barra on Tuesday, November 20. The alleged incident is now the subject of an investigation involving police, the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and other bodies.
Kenny Boyd, Port Services Manager at Oban told "The Corncrake" that "We are taking this opportunity once again to remind hauliers that under the Merchant Shipping Regulations 1997, it is the responsibility of the carrier/haulier to ensure that all dangerous goods offered for shipment are properly declared to the shipping company at least 24 hours in advance. Penalties for breaching these regulations include an unlimited fine or up to two years' imprisonment."
Security and safety checks being carried out by the company include drivers being asked to open their vehicle so that a visual inspection of the load may be carried out. Refusal to co-operate may lead to the vehicle being refused shipment.
If in doubt, intending travellers should seek advice from company employees. Dangerous Goods can include gas, petrol, certain pesticides and a surprisingly wide range of other materials. It is believed that the present case centres upon the attempted carriage of one or more gas cylinders.
"COBWEBS" PROJECT
If you are trying to get some practice on your new computer, why not join "The Corncrake" COBWEB project? Full details are given below in the magazine section - it costs nothing and might be fun.
COLONSAY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
There was a public meeting on 25 November, which two members of the public attended. Two more directors have stood down, Iain Brown and Christine Bailey. Notification of one new candidate for appointment was received and ratified, Donald "Pede" MacNeill. The Chairman being absent, the following report was read by Andrew MacGregor:
The past year has seen the Company starting to get major projects off the ground. Since the last AGM the Rhododendron clearance project has got underway, the Company took over the supply of petrol and also took over the coal supply to the Island.
We have been advised that as a result of these trading activities we should form a subsidiary Company to carry these out and the Board will be following up this advice.
In spring Margaret Kiernen resigned as secretary and Rhona Grant was appointed in her stead. The Board would like to thank Margaret for her services in the early stages of the Company and welcome Rhona to the Company. Also Seamus McNeill resigned as a director at the beginning of April and we thank him for his services.
Looking at the major projects that the Company is carrying out or proposing I can report that the Rhododendron project is now well underway. George Lepard and Ian McGregor were appointed to full time jobs and Ross Moodie and Sid Bowman took up part time jobs with the Company. Since then Ian has resigned and we are currently actively recruiting a new full time worker. Many of you will have seen the BBC Landward program yesterday which featured this project. However I can categorically deny the rumour that the Company has been taken over by Islay.
The construction of the new houses and workshops is no longer the responsibility of the Company and this project is well on the way to completion.
The Brochure to form part of a series for the Argyll Islands tourist information has been completed and Christa and the others concerned with this are to be congratulated on the result.
The Company is now responsible for the sale of petrol with the able assistance of Pede and his shop staff. The purchase of the land from the Estate so that the pump etc. can be replaced is taking far longer than anyone expected. However we hope that all problems will be resolved soon. Final approval for funding will only be given when the land purchase is completed but no significant problems are anticipated.
The Airservice project is being taken forward by Argyll and Bute Council. They have now requested funding from the European Union and have also applied for planning permission for upgrading the Airstrip.
We have been in discussion with a civil engineer regarding a feasibility study to make the Harbour more user-friendly for both Islanders and visitors and hope to be able to apply for funding soon.
The proposal for new crofts has been delayed while the District Valuer sorts out some of the legal problems he has encountered.
The Company provided assistance to Argyll and Bute's Consultant regarding core access footpaths. Our role in this is now complete and the project awaits the new Land Reform Bill coming into force.
We are now hoping to undertake a Heritage Sites Management and Access project which will require among other things a certain amount of bracken eradication. This is a long term project and work on the ground is unlikely to start until mid-2004.
We are also studying the proposal for a children's play area in front of the Village Hall.
New ideas for projects to benefit the Island are always needed and if anyone has any ideas for future projects please let us know.
Finally I would like to thank the Directors and employees of the Company, especially Diane Clerk, the Development Officer, for their efforts in the past year and in particular the retiring Directors for their efforts.
HIGHLAND DANCE GROUP
The new group meets on Wednesdays at 6pm and provides a crash course for anyone lacking in confidence. Our spies report that the first meeting was well-supported and that participants essayed the "Virginia Reel", "Pride of Erin Waltz" and "Boston Two-step".
It is encouraging to know that a number of the school-children attended, especially as they have already been developing their skills as part of their curriculum.
Prof. Mackinnon's Wallpaper, Balnahard
COMPUTING MATTERS
People are still said to be having some problems, but an increasing number have had recourse to the Forum that has been flagged here in recent issues.
Attention has now turned to "Broadband" internet access, and it is hoped that everyone will act upon the half-page advertisement in the "Oban Times". It is important to register your interest as quickly as possible, and in the meantime one or two individuals are beginning to investigate other options currently available.
On a related subject, Angela Skrimshire has forwarded the following item (which was spotted on the 200friends forum mentioned above http://www.2000friends.co.uk):
"The Argyllcom web portal is in its final stages of preparation and is anticipated to launch in first two weeks of December. The site will attempt to bring together the various strands of the Digital Communities project and provide direct access for the local computer users to edit their own pages on it. This will done through an online webpage creator (MS GMS 2002) which is like a simplified version of Word. This means that no knowledge at all of html will be necessary and people will need only minimal training before contributing.
Those running existing websites will be offered the opportunity to move it to the new server in Helensborough where it will be hosted for free for the forseeable future. They will be able to retain their current format or become a fully intergrated part of the portal if they wish.
One of the many services offered by the portal will be a comprehensive news service featuring items from each island. The News providers will add content to their "local" page and an editor will decide which news stories are highlighted on the front.
NAIDC and Unitech (who have provided the technology) hope to create a one stop shop for computer users that will act as both enabler to communities and sort of virtual "yellow pages" for Council and commercial services in the area."
Our own website will be accessible through the portal, but the offer of free hosting may be worthy of consideration. The "news service" might be a cue for an alternative to "The Corncrake" to be established. Again, worth discussion by interested parties… not least our existing readership.
NOOKS & CRANNIES: The Dardanelles
Most of the farms used to consist of one or more clachans; Machrins was formerly known as Machaire na Clibhe (Machair by the cliff) and Machaire Beag (Little machair). The present buildings at Machrins are at the heart of Machaire na Clibhe, but Machaire Beag was swept away many years ago. The site of the clachan is now just a grassy field, to the southeast of the airstrip, known as "The Dardanelles". On March 1st 1807 a British fleet lay off Constantinople, attempting to intimidate the Divan, but actually lacking the strength to launch a successful attack. The following day, led by Sir John Duckworth aboard "Canopus", the squadron stood down the Dardanelles, in order of battle and cleared for action, and with the bomb-ketches in tow. At the Point of Pesques the channel is just two miles wide and the Turks, who had made careful preparation, opened fire upon the fleet from both sides. As it happens, the range of most guns in those days was only about a mile, nonetheless the fleet had a dreadful experience.
"Never since artillery had been invented had shot of greater magnitude been fired... the shot were two feet three inches in diameter. The guns lay in one fixed position, commanding a point where the ships must necessarily pass; and the cannoniers waited till the mark was on, making allowance for the rate of sailing. By a granite shot, the "Royal George" had her cutwater carried away, and was nearly sunk; another cut the mainmast of the "Windsor Castle" in two as if it had been a fishing-rod; another beat two ports into one on board the "Thunderer". By a single shot of the same descriptioon, the "Repulse" had her wheel carried away, twenty-four men killed and wounded at the same instant... Baron de Tott asserts that he had seen one of these guns, which had been cast in the reign of Amurath, fired; that the ball weighed eleven hundredweight, and required a charge of powder amounting to 330 pounds. "At the distance of 800 fathoms," he adds, "I saw the ball divide into three pieces; and these fragments of rock crossed the strait and rebounded on the mountain."
Although Colonsay men are not known to have been present at the Dardanelles, the engagement must have been widely publicised. Exactly why "Machaire Beag" should have become known as the Dardanelles is a little unclear - perhaps a reader can help. Perhaps it was because of the difficulty in cultivating the field; if stones from the old cottages kept fouling the plough, someone may have drawn an analogy with a battle field which had been bombarded by rocks.
UPDATE:
John Clark advises that in fact the Dardanelles is indeed on the south side of the airstrip, but on the north side of the burn; hence it marches with Machaire Beag and the two names co-exist. John confirms that when first ploughed it gave a lot of trouble, but that the eponymous "Dardanelles" engagement was that of the Great World War in which the Anzacs suffered so heavily. So it was a redoubtable struggle, but the enormous hand-carved granite cannonballs are a red-herring. Pity.
The Dardanelles, Machrins
WHAT'S ON IN COLONSAY
Christmas Cards, produced by Kilchattan School, on sale at shop now.
Scottish Country Dancing lessons - Wednesdays 18.00hrs, 50p.to adults.(Contact Angus and Jen).
Badminton, Thursdays 18.00hrs.
Quiz in the Hotel every Wednesday at 9.30 pm.
From 6 th DEcember: Take-Away Meals available Monday to Saturday from the hotel.
From 23 December to 3 January, chef John MacDonald will be offering a specially created menu for the Festive Season. Tel: 01951 200316 for further details.
Church Service
Please note that services in both the Baptist Church and the Church of Scotland are at the new time of 11.30hrs. Services are held regularly - see notices in the shop and hotel for details.
Advance notice:
The 14th International Gathering of Clan Macfie is to be held May 14-18, 2003 in Gatlinburg, TN, hosted by the Macfie Clan Society of America. For more information see http://www.macfiesocietyofamerica.com or contact:
Jim McAfee, Macfie Clan Society of America
420 Ash Dr.; Baxter, TN 38544 USA
jgmcafee@tnaccess.com
SNIPPETS
Lots of national papers copied the "Poofter Drink" story in our last issue; "Clan Chatter" is campaigning to trace the lineal descent of the chiefs of Clan McPhee; Kilchattan Primary School have raised more than £100 by making and selling Christmas Cards; the outstanding computers will be installed on 12 December; CalMac will be running mini-cruises on Monday nights next summer; Davie Sutherland and his team finally raised over £1,800 for the Poppy Appeal; Argyll & Bute has told the world (but not us) that it is open season for planning in the islands - build what you want, wherever you want, the planners will bend over backwards to help ….
TOPICAL LETTERS
For convenience of readers, letters now appear in two sections. Anything to do with current events appears here, and letters to do with the Magazine section or historical research etc. will appear at the end of the Magazine section.
[There are no letters this week. Instead, here is a picture of an orchid given to Mrs. Robertson a year ago, now back in flower again.]
The Magazine Section
