Water Under the Bridge
Posted: Wednesday, 02 March 2005 |
Comments
Another victory for the Council Bean-Counters then.
Gary
Gary Sutherland from Carradale
I am one of the members of FLAG. I cannot tell you how infuriated I am with the workings of Argyll and Bute Council. When the feasability study was discussed there was no talk of new slipways and a new ferry, but with the situation as it stands today, 2 new slips and a larger boat, with extra ferry personnel to run it, had Argyll and Bute Council costed the fixed link fairly it would have come out as the cheaper option. Unfortunately this has not been done. Argyll and Bute Council have costed the fixed link over a 30 year period (same as for a ferry), but obiously a fixed link could last up to 100 years. FLAG will keep campaigning for a fixed link, no matter what!
Alison Robertson from Cullipool, Luing
Keep up the pressure, Alison. A fixed link with tide turbines makes so much more sense, long-term, but when have councils ever allowed that to get in the way of their decision making?
They'd sooner cover your island with windmills!
Gary
Gary Sutherland from Carradale
Reading the community council Minutes 27th January 2005 it says "M.S. explained the financial reasoning to the meeting and the conclusion that
a fixed link would be much cheaper and last longer than a new ferry (replacement ferry cost to the Council would be £10.5 million, fixed link would be £0.5 million).
Accordingly, there may be no need to build temporary piers."
Reading this you would have thought A&B council could have equally chosen to say that they cannot afford not to build the fixed link as apposed to saying it is too expensive.
(I have to point out that I have no idea of the level of support on the island for the fixed link.)
pondhead from Mull
Another short term solution that will cost more money in the long run from Argyll & Bute! How long has the "Bridge over the Atlantic" been standing? Surely, too, if the Council cannot afford a fixed link with a tidal energy generation scheme now, why is it not going out to developers who may back such a scheme as they are doing all over the place with wind? Basically, A&B do not seem to be much interested in any other renewables at the moment! If a majority of the islanders on Luing want a fixed link, keep fighting!
longerview from Mull
I don't know which Community Council meeting pondhead is referring to I would be interested to know.
Luing C.C. had a referendum in 2000 concerning the fixed link, the vote was given to registered electors only, the result was 98 for 41 against, we also asked the opinion of 12--18 year olds they vote was 10 for 4 against.
Luinneach from Luing
Hi Pondhead, I suddenly realised who M.S.is in your post above, I went online and found the Community Council meeting and minutes you were referring to, no need to answer my question now, I should have thought a bit more before I responded to your post, sorry about that.
Luinneach from Luing
Hi Luineach, apologies had intended to put in a link to the council meeting minutes and sorry for my using initials - a Mull Bloggers convention.
http://www.seil.oban.ws/ccminutes/sccmin0105.pdf.
Thanks for the info about the vote - interesting.
pondhead from Mull
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