tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post5476435956685720372..comments2023-10-16T08:37:22.742+00:00Comments on An incredulous eye on the isles: Broadband in BarraElectricCrofterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09495260997875836669noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-56027103791695844372008-07-02T23:02:00.000+00:002008-07-02T23:02:00.000+00:00ConCom is unsustainable. Ask anyone at the Health ...ConCom is unsustainable. Ask anyone at the Health Board who knows what they are talking about. I guess that narrows down your options, but if you meet a ConCom fanboy, just ask about the finance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-68788651966440699712008-06-20T08:12:00.000+00:002008-06-20T08:12:00.000+00:004.38One of the best posts I have seen on this blog...4.38<BR/><BR/>One of the best posts I have seen on this blog.<BR/><BR/>Bet you feel better for getting it off your chest but will anyone take any notice?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-31289765222259399922008-06-19T16:38:00.000+00:002008-06-19T16:38:00.000+00:0013 million pounds of taxpayers money wasted. Sever...13 million pounds of taxpayers money wasted. Several years of lies.<BR/><BR/>Try and complain. What happens? You get threatened. If you already have broadband, cut off. Then there is censorship by Comhairle staff "holding the line":<BR/><BR/>http://www.uigandbernera.com/index.php?option=com_phorum&Itemid=17&phorum_query=read,5,19<BR/><BR/>Complain to any Comhairle or HIE representative on Harris? Forget it.<BR/><BR/>And that is the heart of it. There are people who have done very well over the years out of this carry-on. And more in the Comhairle and HIE who know it's a huge white elephant. But to admit would reveal their incompetence, force the scandal that's been brewing for years, result in people having to resign. Remember; after clawback, more money has been wasted by ConCom than was lost in the BCCI carry-on.<BR/><BR/>And so the word goes out. Comhairle and HIE staff must use ConCom, and they must always say how wonderful it is. <BR/><BR/>Here we are. It is 2008, and here on Harris there are still places where broadband is "problematic" or "coming soon".<BR/><BR/>Aye, right. How long has it been coming? And after five years of lies from HIE and the Comhairle, why should anyone believe any more promises or dates?<BR/><BR/>Ten questions:<BR/><BR/>1. How many millions of pounds have the mainland Atkins Consultants made out of this carry-on? How much do they charge for every call-out from the mainland? If they are experts, why did they manage to prepare a sight for a relay mast on the WRONG HILL in Harris?<BR/><BR/>2. Who, and when, did people in the Comhairle and HIE know that the technology was unsuitable? Trials BT undertook years ago proved this so. Some of the dishes now used by ConCom are second-hand ones from that same failed trial!<BR/><BR/>3. How many promises have been made and broken? We have endured repeatedly broken promises going back to 2003. How many councillors understand what is going on? <BR/><BR/>4. Why have 25 year leases been signed for some of the relay masts? How much are local taxpayers being stung for this carry-on?<BR/><BR/>5. How many telephone exchanges in Lewis, Harris and the Uists are already enabled for broadband, but lie unused for this purpose? It is widely known in the local telephone engineering community that there are several.<BR/><BR/>6. It would have cost, at the most, 1.1 million pounds to convert all remaining phone exchanges. That figure is from a middle manager of BT. Why does HIE persist in stating that ConCom is and was the most effective option?<BR/><BR/>7. How many ex-customers of ConCom have been barred for complaining about the unreliability of the service? Why was one old lady in Leverburgh reduced to tears by the bullying and intimidation of their phone staff, who wrongly insisted she had not paid her bill and threatened all manner of sanctions?<BR/><BR/>8. How many businesses have relocated to the mainland because of the lack of a promised broadband service? How many were young people and families, depleting our falling school rolls and communities of much-needed children? Have you seen our school rolls in Harris? Does the Comhairle or HIE truly care? Should broadband roll-out for everyone have been a top priority?<BR/><BR/>9. What are the legal and technical impediments to BT converting the remaining telephone exchanges? Why have these never been made public?<BR/><BR/>10. Why do the Comhairle, HIE and ConCom assume that residents will somehow forget the long list of broken promises, and just remember the current promise? Which will be broken again, and again and..<BR/><BR/>And 11. When will I get reliable broadband, so I do not have to frequently drive to Stornoway to carry out much of my business?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-64306200284045890202008-06-19T14:18:00.000+00:002008-06-19T14:18:00.000+00:00actually, if you are going to have a sign like tha...actually, if you are going to have a sign like that it shd. read give way to locals WITH JOBS and flash on and off between 8-9am and 3-5pm.<BR/><BR/>oh and one for later on at night saying "abandon hope all ye who enter here"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-71478152984407501962008-06-19T14:07:00.000+00:002008-06-19T14:07:00.000+00:00From the Sternerway GazellePricelesswho are all th...From the Sternerway Gazelle<BR/><BR/>Priceless<BR/><BR/>who are all these tourist that force me off the road from October to April then?<BR/><BR/>A LEADING island councillor has slammed tourists who neglect to use passing places to allow cars behind them to overtake.<BR/>Cllr. Archie Campbell was speaking at Wednesday's meeting of the Comhairle's Transportation Committee, when he suggested that an announcement on Caledonian Macbrayne ferries arriving in the Western Isles would be of help.<BR/><BR/>He said that the tannoy announcement which informed passengers that they were nearing the islands could also be used to inform tourists of the role that passing places on single track roads played.<BR/><BR/>He was doubtful that tourists knew what the passing places were for.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps our dear Councillor whould like more signs like "Give way to locals"<BR/><BR/>Is it no wonder that attitudes like his and the threat of wind turbines is scaring off tourists etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-35894323964977030442008-06-18T22:14:00.000+00:002008-06-18T22:14:00.000+00:00Anon 4:28,saidstop talking bollocks and stick to t...Anon 4:28,said<BR/>stop talking bollocks and stick to the subject of the original post, if you actually have anything useful to say.<BR/><BR/>So who was talking bollocks now. The truth seems to hurt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-2194828515147016352008-06-18T20:17:00.000+00:002008-06-18T20:17:00.000+00:00Anon 4:28Will we notice the difference by his abse...Anon 4:28<BR/>Will we notice the difference by his absence. I think not!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-35744096681048117592008-06-18T19:50:00.000+00:002008-06-18T19:50:00.000+00:00Anon 4:28, stop talking bollocks and stick to the ...Anon 4:28, stop talking bollocks and stick to the subject of the original post, if you actually have anything useful to say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-84021041597192488132008-06-18T17:53:00.000+00:002008-06-18T17:53:00.000+00:00I believe that a switch could have been flicked in...I believe that a switch could have been flicked in the Barvas exchange to allow other broadband services down the west and North of Lewis.<BR/><BR/>However HIE stopepd that happening so that they maintained the monoploy.<BR/><BR/>These quangos are unreal. I thought they were supposed to help the people, not hinder them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17278382.post-1732434913267432092008-06-18T16:28:00.000+00:002008-06-18T16:28:00.000+00:00Well no point in asking our Barra MP to help as he...Well no point in asking our Barra MP to help as he has announced he is to help the Tory David Davis in his bi-election campaign. Well there we have it the proper Tartan Tory showing his true colours. <BR/><BR/>There we go fighting for a Tory in Yorkshire and doing nothing for his own Island. Shame on him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com