Told you so...is that noise I hear, the slow agonising death of the private sector?Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are investigating the possibility of becoming the harbour authority for the whole Western Isles.
At a meeting of the full Comhairle tonight (Thursday) Cllr [Angus] Campbell posed a written question to Convener Alex Macdonald on the suggestion.
Cllr Campbell has now asked the Chief Executive Malcolm Burr to prepare a report on the feasibility of this suggestion.
This move comes just weeks after the Stornoway Port Authority stood in the way of the Comhairle's plans to partially infill Bayhead Estuary.
The blog formerly known as "Angus Nicolson - an incredulous eye on the isles" this was the blog of an ordinary, boring, former Councillor in the Western Isles of Scotland.
Angus is taking a sabbatical to be with his young family
Debate strengthens democracy, except inside the SNP, as he has discovered.
If you want balance then get some scales. This is opinion - our opinion.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Comhairle to become Harbour Authority for Western Isles?
According to the Gazette report:
Is it just me, or does anyone else notice that this council is rapidly becoming more and more authoritarian?
ReplyDeleteWhen I looked through the ragged but dangerous bunch carelessly voted in at the last elections, I knew trouble would come, but this is really going beyond the pale now.
If it ain't broke don't fix it!
ReplyDeleteI read an article in the Gazzer tonight with a quote from the council harbour master stating that there is no money in the pot should the arse fall out of any of their piers.
I'll bet you a pair of size 10 catepillar boots that SPA have more of an abilty to deal with any forseeable diffculties.
What advantages are there in the council making a grab for it anyway, apart from making it easier to make a complete shit heap of the place with infill and even more parking.
The council taking over SPA is totally un-necessary, all it will succeed in doing is badly running the place which could potentially add more worry and woe to their portfilio of dogshit and ebay shops for us poor sods to pay our rates and taxes to help prop up.
The council doesn't seem to be able to run anything else at any reasonable level of efficiency at present so why bother going for a hostile takeover? Unless for some childish bayhead shaped personal vendetta perhaps?
Just out of interest, how many articles are listed under the label 'Council' without also been list in the 'Bloody Idiots' category?
ReplyDeleteNo, don't bother counting, a high enough percentage no doubt.
Their timing as always is "immaculate" with today's printed Gazette carrying the Headline "Fears for (council) Island Piers"
ReplyDeleteAccording to their website they already own
Ardveenish Harbour
Berneray Harbour
Breasclete Harbour
Kallin Harbour
Lochmaddy Harbour
Brevig Harbour
Stockinish
Kirkibost
Scalpay (Fishery Pier)
Carloway
Miavaig
Skigersta
Acarsaid
Aird Ma Ruibhe Terminal
Aird Mhor
Griminish
Ludaig
Eoligarry
Vatersay Causeway Slips
Kyles Scalpay Terminal
Otternish Terminal
Eriskay Ferry Terminal
Ardveenish Slipway
Ceann a Gharaidh Ferry Terminal
Leverburgh
Port of Ness Slip
Callanish
Bayble
Cromore
Scarp
West Loch Tarbert
Newton Ferry Jetty
Pol nan Crann
Orosay
Castlebay Slip
Scalpay Ferry Terminal
Breasclete Old Pier & Slip
Valtos
Portnaguran
Gravir
Hushinish
Loch Ceann Dibig
Cheesebay
Petersport
Haun
Crossbost
Otternish West Slip
Lochboisdale Fishery Pier
Skigersta
Acarsaid
Aird Ma Ruibhe Terminal
Aird Mhor
Griminish
Ludaig
Eoligarry
Vatersay Causeway Slips
Kyles Scalpay Terminal
Otternish Terminal
Eriskay Ferry Terminal
Ardveenish Slipway
Ceann a Gharaidh Ferry Terminal
Leverburgh
Is that not enough to be getting on with- most of whish are falling into the sea for lack of investment
Financial poverty, fuel poverty, care poverty, and the council's answer to this is more government, not less. Jeez?
ReplyDeleteMilitary coup in Niger today. We need something similar here. The council is in free fall and the Scottish Government needs to step in and stabilise the boat.
ReplyDeleteThey have dilusions of grandure but have shown they cannot act democraticaly. There is so much nepatism and self interest they cannot make clear judgements.
I dont like the guy, but Salmond must act now. This is the first year of cuts. There will be another 4 years of this. What goes next?
As fot the Port Authority. Leave alone Comhairle or are you just looking for an anchorage for your sinking ship?
SNP - this is your chance to regain something for the island people. McSween is no use as nationally Labour will fall and we will be left with a spare part in Westminster with no backing.
I wonder if the Council would try to stop the Sunday sailings? I recall the SPA saying that if Cal Mac wanted to sail they couldn't legally stop them. Such niceties doesn't seem bother the whitehouse.
ReplyDeletePuts a whole new meaning on
ReplyDelete"COUNCIL FILLS IN HARBOUR" Eh?
Thought Norman Macarthur was over egging it in his letter in this weeka Gazette "Councils Extreme Bullying Tactics"- but obviously he wasn't. Are Nicolson & Co and Macarthur & Co in cahoots with the same crystal ball?
Anon 8:08
ReplyDeleteWell said, weary old Broon is on his way out as sure as eggs is eggs and the incoming Tories don't even know where the Hebrides are and care less. A Labour MP up here would be as much use as teats on a boar.
That dealt with, the Scottish Government really needs to take a good look at how this council is behaving, not only with regard to the SPA and so on, but also to its (lack of) interaction with the public. I believe it's more widely despised now than at any time in its less than illustrious history, even during BCCI and the infamous windfarm fiasco.
The new Council motto:
ReplyDeleteAon Tir, Aon Comhairle, Aon Angus Campbell
10:33 Broon out? Not too hasty; the odds on a hung parliament have been shortening rapidly. Just need a few more buffoons such as Winterton to open his mouth and remind people about what Tories *really* think and feel, and Camerons lead will disappear. Not beyond the realms of possibility Broon will still be running the show come the summer...
ReplyDeleteNot beyond the realms of possibility Broon will still be running the show come the summer...ha ha ha stop it my sides are splitting. You need to post to the blog titled 'Clutching at straws'.
ReplyDeleteHere are ONLY ONE WEEKS headlines involving CnES on Hebrides News- TOTAL 33 -not ONE positive one.
ReplyDeleteIt's tragic reading.....
HEBRIDES NEWS HEADLINES
INVOLVING COMHAIRLE
FOR ON WEEK
12 FEBRUARY 2010 to 19 FEBRUARY 2010
12 February 2010
Housing repairs grants wiped out for most
Town hall architects’ second chance for contentious changes
Letter: Councillors should listen to their constituents
Savage cuts in Western Isles frontline services
15 February 2010
Letter: No cuts for councillors
Town Hall funding raided from other projects
Lib Dems hits out at council cuts
Letter: Councils “extreme bullying” against harbour board
Council cuts; “attack on the elderly, disabled and children”
16 February 2010
Council – V- Council in Town Hall Planning Row
Comhairle is in the wrong say Town hall campaigners
Manford quits Sgoiltean Ura
Cuts and more cuts
Council cuts; “What is going to happen to us now”
17 February 2010
Letter: Town Hall objection
Letter: Leave the Town Hall alone
Letter: Sad day for Town Hall
Letter: Save Town Hall
Letter: Congratulate Advocacy campaigners
Letter: Misuse of historic building
MP’s concern on Town Hall
Reference to Council Employee- deleted
Stay of execution for Advocacy service
Go-ahead for contentious Town hall changes
Letter: “Vote Councillors out of office”
Old folk will be hammered by council cuts
18 February 2010
Letter: No justification for Town hall changes
Comhairle accused of misrepresenting the people
Bid for community say over council services
SNP challenge council cuts on frontline services
Allan and Macneill concerned over schools’ cuts
Council applauds stringent budget cuts
19 February 2010
Council plot to take over Stornoway harbour.
This hostile bid will go nowhere, but perhaps a reverse takeover might!
ReplyDelete5:09
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be under the risible illusion that Murdo Maclean is a disinterested bystander, making objective observations about current events on our behalf. Hence the list of headlines.
Instead, he's a flag-waving (probably denies card-carrying) member of the SNP, keen to promote their business, keen to brown nose to MP & MSP, useful conduit for press releases since the Gazette, with Donnie as Chief Reporter, is so hostile to the SNP!
So, the news may be varied, community opinion may be divided, there's a healthy debate about views within the community, but please, please, don't think that the Hebrides News headlines are any more objective than the Nazi-supporting Rothermere ones were in the Daily Mail of the 1930s.
They're an opinion, nothing more or less.
Ah they just want Amity House.... more office space with the added bonus of car parking on site.
ReplyDeleteIf the council take over SPA then the sunday ferries will stop since there policy is not to work sundays so there will be no-one there on sundays to tie up the ferry when it comes in. They would just make an ar5h of it anyway.
ReplyDelete7.08
ReplyDeleteLets leave the politics out of this as the subject is too serious for party political bickering. Lets face it our council is in shit street on so many fronts that it would more become them to sort out their own mess before interfering in someone elses perfectly [well almost] run enterprise. Fcking cheek I say
7:08
ReplyDeleteWell I have no political colour and have always tended to vote for the man. Voted for Calum MacDonald, Voted for Alasdair Morrison, Voted for MacNeill (Doubt if I will next time) and have voted for Alasdair Allan (doubtful about him next time but less so than AB.
I am sad to see a Council that has pressed the Self Destruct Button- Leaderless, Headless & Useless being the causes.
So 7:08 - Here is the challenge - Tell us even ONE positive thing our Council -V- Council has done in the past week. Better still tell us three things.
I was told that all councillors voted for these moves, with just Morag Munro abstaining.
ReplyDeleteSo no one has any opinion and they act like sheep and vote en-masse. No debate in the public domain, cosy in house days etc. Thas the way they have it these days.
The likes of Angus Graham would never have stood for this.
A disgrace.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI was told that all councillors voted for these moves, with just Morag Munro abstaining.
NO - it's clear from the press reports that all 4 SNP councillors voted against. Munro only abstained because she's involved in the voluntary sector and is holier than thou.
10.20
ReplyDeleteI'm also trying to imagine what Mrs Mac's comments would have been. Near unprintable I should imagine. But then with councillors like her, we'd never have ended up where we are.
As a matter of interest is it on the record how our cooncillors voted? How can we find out?
ReplyDeleteLatest Latest
ReplyDeleteComhairle is going to pass a law that the Sun must always shine.
Haven't you heard Angus, this is the new Council policy?
ReplyDeleteIf anyone disgrees or challenges the council then the Council will find a way to provide the service themselves.
I hear that this is their policy with a certain accountancy firm in the islands, and we all know how great their finance team are. The shredders are the only assets that are sweat.
http://www.hebridesnews.co.uk/port_showdown_with_council_23210.html
ReplyDeleteCan anyone explain what a "Robust" meeting is??
Yes, it means they shouted at each other and possibly the word a***hole was used.
ReplyDeleteOur glorious Leader seemed to be back pedalling in the Gazette "It has nothing to do with Bayhead" but in the Free Press he "concedes" it has everything to do with Bayhead.
ReplyDeleteThe gaelic for Campbell - Cam Beul- lit "crooked mouth" seems a very apt translation.
How come all the retail shopkeepers weren't asked if they wanted to sell their shops, or have I missed this being advertised somewhere as an inducement to be part of the town centre renewal project? It seems unlikely that this was part of the original regeneration proposal and it would seem healthier and perhaps more successful if all the town shops were involved! There's a more fundamental question to be asked about the rationale of the council getting involved in property development during an economic crunch, especially when public sector budgets are being really stretched. Can someone explain what is going on, or am I missing something basic?
ReplyDeleteWell, to be honest an economic downturn is actually a very good time to be getting into property investment...
ReplyDelete