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Have taken this report from the Lismore's Island News webpage. Think it will be of interest to those of you who have been following our petrol saga. On a personal note I'd like to say a big thank you to the Petrol Commitee.

"Lismore’s petrol carriage has entered a new phase. The halcyon days of leaving your empty can at Point and collecting it full later in the week have gone for good. And even the arrangement that has been in place for the last 9 months grant funded by Argyll and Bute and the Argyll and Islands Enterprise, carried by Foster Yeoman and supplied and delivered by Gunns, have gone. But a big thank you to Gunns.

Now thanks to the hard work of the petrol sub committee, who have been working non stop since February to find a solution, we have a negotiated a deal with CalMac which ensures we have access to petrol. Further the committee have provided step by step guidance through the maze of regulations to be satisfied.

First we must have “UN certified” cans bearing a Class 3 label which are in sound, leak proof condition. If they are carried in a car the vehicle must display approved class 3 flammable liquids “placards” on both sides and the rear. The Community Council will purchase a set of these and Lismore stores will loan them on a 24hr basis. On an open vehicle if the class 3 dangerous goods labels are obvious on the can then no placards necessary. Each vehicle must also be accompanied by a dangerous goods notice produced by SITPRO, the current version being SITPRO 99. These are in sets of 4 – top and 3 copies - and the completed set must be handed to the ferry crew. You can get these at Lismore Stores and other places on the mainland. Because the regulations by road are even worse no amount over 333 litres can be carried and you should check that you are insured to carry dangerous goods.

Finally if there are over 50 passengers on the ferry no petrol can be carried.

If you are a CalMac foot passenger with a certified can and dangerous goods form filled in, you can place it in a specially provided cage. Maximum cans permitted on any one sailing are 6x20 litres, or 6x10litres or 12x 5 litres. These cans do not need to be accompanied but you have to make arrangements for them to be collected by a well wisher on the mainland. If you have no such person I presume you have to carry your can to the filling station and then carry it back. Only the strong need attempt. The 50 person rule applies here too.

The good news is that Calmac will not charge but they require 24 hours notice of intention to carry.

We must be very grateful to the no disbanded petrol sub committee of Roger and Gilly Dixon-Spain, Steven Green, Mark Willis, and Julian Wormleighton for their dogged work. The Community Council will keep us informed should these condition change. No doubt we will all get used to them and soon think nothing of forms and placards and cages. "