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January 30 2012
Contracts; and shifting the blame
The fact is that parcelling up the contracts into smaller amounts would have resulted in local contractors being in the running.
But it seems clear that Government policy is to stuff the local businesses in the name of saving a few quid.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
January 29 2012
Post Office, post Independence
What happens to the Universal Service Obligation - the obligation to deliver post anywhere in the UK at a single fixed price - post Independence?
I posed this question to a senior SNP member, and got abuse in return; when I hoped for enlightenment. These questions, and many other similar questions, are going to be asked over the next couple of years and the public will want answers, or the "fear factor" will win. That is the downside of the delay in the poll.
Shoot me down if I am wrong, but the USO will disappear, meaning that postal services in the islands will need to be subsidised by the new Scottish Royal Mail. The current postage stamp system - of course - won't exist, and it is likely that many rural Post Offices will lose their subsidy and close. Unless Edinburgh guarantees to underwrite the cost.
Royal Mail will likely continue to deliver to Glasgow and Edinburgh - where the volume is - but the rest of the country will be up for grabs. Or not as the case may be.
The SNP need to get a grip, admit and address the reality of additional costs in setting up the public services, and provide answers to some very basic questions that those more erudite than I will raise in more public fora.
Let's frame the least scary scare headline, "Islands to lose daily post in Independent Scotland".
Comments very welcome.....
Another Photo Of 'Jessie'?
I have discovered another image of a two-masted cargo vessel in Stornoway that appeared in a catalogue of images published in 1893. It is to be found in the George Washington Wilson collection at Aberdeen University Library and is an extremely rare stereoscopic close-up showing the stern and deck of a cargo sailing ship working in Scotland towards the end of the 19th Century.
I cannot be sure that she is indeed the 'Jessie' but the photo provides the best image that I have seen of this type of vessel and allows one's imagination to explore what it would have been like to sail such a ship, taking all kinds of cargo around these coasts and providing a vital service to island trade and communications.
This link will take you to the full details and clicking on the image will open a new page with a view that may be zoomed & explored revealing many fascinating details.
I wonder who the gentleman (usefully providing us with a scale to estimate the size of the ship, etc) is?
January 28 2012
A Letter from Dolly Doctor
A letter from Dr Macdonald of Gisla and Stornoway to another great Uig historian, Murdo Macleod (Murchadh Chaluim Sheoras, Crowlista and Glasgow). Dolly Doctor was at the time collecting objects and money for a folk museum, which didn’t happen before he died in 1961 but did supply Museum nan Eilean.
24/2/60
22 New Street
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
Dear Murdo
At last I managed to find the negative of the Castle of the Macleods and have got prints made from it by the people who make my slides. I am sending you one of these prints – you can go into a photographers and get the picture enlarged to any size you fancy but you should ask the price first. You know that Seaforth fortified the castle in support of Charles II about 1962 & in defiance of Cromwell. He sent a company of soldiers from Inverness & they occupied Stornoway & buildt a garrison fort where the Custom House now stands. They left the Macleod Castle but in 1654 before leaving to go back to England under Genl Monk they blew up the castle leaving only a part of the walls & the tower. This was its condition up till 1882 when the stones of the tower & old castle were built into the foundations of No. 1 Pier. Provost Rodk Smith when a boy used to play in the ruins of the Old Castle during the big ebbs at spring tides. There were ‘clachan sinnteag’, a causeway of stepping to get to Castle at low tide but at flood the Castle was completely surrounded by water. The history of Siol Torcuill revolves round the Castle & many gruesome tales are told of what happened through the ages. Since writing you my brother Willie who used to be at Uig Lodge & was living in Stockport Lancashire dropped down dead. It was a terrible shock to his family & to us. I carry on with my Old Folks Association each Wedy. The fund for the Museum is at a standstill £1543 – we will have to do something about getting more funds soon. I am a prisoner upstairs in my room with all this ice & snow. I hope it goes soon for I cannot walk any distance now even with my two sticks. I think your story will appear in the next issue of Gairm. Tha mi an am pian agus ann an cabhaig agus seo e chun a phosta.
Le na beannachdan is gile ghuit fhein.
DD
January 27 2012
Crofting Commission Election attracts good response with 29 candidates
Highlands & Islands Labour MSP delivers his road safety campaign group DVD to the Western Isles
3,000 angry Scots respond to CAB survey on rural delivery charges
Way ahead for inshore fishing
Locals invited to SNH reception in Benbecula
Public participation invited to further improve audiology services in the Western Isles
January 26 2012
Climate change body arrives in Scotland to steer peatland restoration
Hope for Stornoway’s Peacocks
McGrigor secures Parliamentary debate on Western Isles Special Area of Conservation designations
Allan presses for next generation broadband in the Western Isles
Suileachan: the Reef Monument
Work is underway in Reef on a new commemorative landmark commissioned by the Bhaltos Community Trust to mark the impact of land reform in Uig and throughout the island.
The Trust agreed at a public meeting to commission the monument to commemorate the 19th century Lewis land clearances, the 20th century raids by the Reef Raiders, more recent Scottish land reforms, and the creation of the Trust itself. Marion Leven and Will Maclean, who created the landmark structures around Lewis at Pairc, Aignish and Gress, were commissioned to design the monument.
The Reef monment, Suileachan (‘lesson’), will be constructed on an elevated, panoramic site in the village, with views over the surrounding land, sea and islands. The proposed structure has been designed with two circles, connected by a walled walkway. The eastern circle has a grey stone circular floor, inscribed with the names of the Reef Raiders. The walkway will lead the visitor through an archway, designed and constructed by Jim Crawford, to the west circle, overlooking the sea and islands of West Loch Roag, symbolically linking the past and the present. This circle will have integrated seating inside and outside of the drystone walls and there will be an iron fire basket to provide a beacone which will be lit at times of celebration and commemoration. Suileachan will provide a future setting for cultural events as well as being aplace of reflection, contemplation and inspiration as it provides a panoramic view of the local area; it will describe the land struggle and its impact to visitors, and show the importance of working together to improve the future of our 21st century island century communities.
Suileachan has been designed to celebrate island craftsmanship and skills. The land around Bhaltos is defined by distinctive old stone walls, which will be replicated in the monument walls, constructed of stones from blackhouses in the area by an island stonemason. The iron fire-basket will be made by a Stornoway blacksmith and the seating by a local craftsman from local stone and windblown trees from the Stornoway Trust.
The project has been made possible by funding from Scotland’s Islands, Community Regeneration Fund, Proiseact nan Ealan, Uig Community Council and the Bhaltos Community Trust, with the help of volunteers, the Comann Eachdraidh and Cllr Norman A Macdonald.
A launch event is being planned for March; watch local outlets for details.
January 25 2012
Western Isles MSP welcomes referenum consultation launch
Lorry fares and RET
First the Labour motion:
S4M-01750 David Stewart: Road Equivalent Tariff for Commercial Vehicles—That the Parliament notes with concern the Scottish Government’s current proposals to remove road equivalent tariff from commercial vehicles using ferries that serve the communities of the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree; notes that in some cases the fare increase for small haulage companies from Tiree would more than double the fare and in the Western Isles may be up to 175% of the current fare; considers that in the current economic climate these fare increases are both extremely damaging to the local economy and completely unjustifiable; calls on the Scottish Government to urgently withdraw these plans, and believes that, if the Scottish Government chooses not to do so, this would seriously question its commitment to Scotland’s most fragile island communities.And now the Government amendment, which - in the spirit of representative democracy - SNP MSPs have to have approved by the Whips (my emphasis).
*S4M-01750.1 John Finnie: Road Equivalent Tariff for Commercial Vehicles—As an amendment to motion S4M-01750 in the name of David Stewart (Road Equivalent Tariff for Commercial Vehicles), leave out from "with concern" to end and insert “the ongoing representations by the haulage industry in the Western Isles to the Scottish Government to ensure the fairest possible system of fares for commercial vehicles on ferries in the islands on a basis that recognises the economic fragility of this part of Scotland; believes that, if a system of discounts is to replace the present road equivalent tariff (RET) fares for larger commercial vehicles, it must be on a fair basis that benefits small as well as larger companies and must operate more equitably than previous discount schemes for commercial vehicles; welcomes the indication in the ferries review that the Scottish Government will look at extending the definition of a small commercial vehicle on Hebridean and Clyde ferries from a maximum of five to six metres; understands that RET fares will continue for all passengers, cars and small commercial vehicles on routes between the mainland and the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree and that the Scottish Government will extend the scheme in the course of the current parliamentary session to cover other islands, starting with Colonsay, Gigha and Islay in 2012, as well as inter-island routes such as those on the Sound of Barra and Sound of Harris, and welcomes what it considers the contrast between these policies and the situation during eight years of a Labour-Liberal Democrat administration, when not one of the longstanding demands for RET in the islands was met."So, despite the vigorous spin to the contrary, and as anyone who has read the policy sham consultation there is no guarantee of any discounts; that the vehicle lengths might be reviewied at some point; and that RET may continue for all passengers.
On the upside, there is a call to give discounts to all commercials - but that's a bit giving the option of having a kicking from the left foot or the right foot, after you've been clubbed to the ground.
Remember that CalMac are ultimately owned and controlled by by the SNP Government, who seem content to let this change be implemented.
Cpt Pugnatious (A Salmond) announces that RET cuts are all the fault of Westminster, watched by the adoring Roger the Cabin Boy (A Allan)
whilst the evil Blackbeard (Cllr MacSween) tries to spoil their fun.
January 24 2012
Macneil contacts vodaphone and 02 following signal failure in Outer Hebrides
Scottish fuels boss will address public meeting
Maybe Soup is currently being updated? I'll try again automatically in a few seconds...
