Human Rights
Posted: Saturday, 21 June 2008 |
Comments
Jurastores, what a pity your blog was not posted on time. This is an issue of major importance to us all. You are correct, shortly we will hardly have a ferry service of any note. The JCC claim they are trying and perhaps they are but if they can achieve nothing on our behalf, what is the point of having a so called ‘elected body’. They clearly have no more say in such issue than you or I. Where are the people to re-establish this island, the IaTE. –Sorry- They have given us a passenger ferry which carries 12 people and runs during the summer. Great, you can get to Tayvallich but you can not get to Port Askaig with your car. And who are the major supporters of this passenger ferry, well of course none other than Argyll and Bute Council. What a coincidence. What of the mighty JDT, the group to develop Jura. Yes, forgot a couple of worthless little pontoons and a super tearoom. What a great idea but wait who is going to stop for a cup of tea. Great directors of the JDT you have not being paying attention to what is happening on the island. ASP are going to reduce the number of sailings, so how are your customers going to get here. Oh sorry, forgot again, from a couple of yachts and the 12 seat passenger ferry. No need to worry, all the little groups have the matter in hand. Jurastores, we seem to be left out in the cold ---again.
Fly the flag from Jura
Who are you people? do you live on the same island as me? I have never had a problem with our ferry or it's crew. Don't you realise you are only winding people up and making a problem where there is'nt one. I can only assume you people get a jolly from this rot. Why don't you do something constructive with your abundance of spare time. The silent majority are very happy with our ferry service, so let's not rock the BOAT!
commuter from jura/islay/jura/islay/jura/islay/jura
Commuter, it must be you on the wrong island. A not so silent majority of some 70 or so islanders (just about one representative from every household on the island) attended the recent public meeting re. the ferry/slipway situation and not one of those in the hall echoed your sentiments. Not one person said they were happy about the ferry, the new slipway or possible cutbacks in double runs to clear waiting traffic. Nor was anyone happy with A&BC re. the new slipway and we have every right to be angry and frustrated. The new, largely unuseable slipway, is quite rightly a cause for major concern. We were promised an improved facility once the new slipway was finished - that promise has been broken by A&BC. A&BC decided, arbitarily and without any consultation with anyone on Jura, that in future Jura would have to share the linkspan with Cal-Mac. Cal-Mac will always have priority over useage. Had A&BC consulted with anyone on Jura they would have learnt that this is totally impractical. At the very least Jura needs an equivalent facility to the one we had before, i.e. its own slipway which can be used 95% of the time.
Gwen from Craighouse
Hmm - the 'human rights' argument is so overused these days. Yes - there can be challenges and difficulties with living on an island but let's not throw about the 'human rights' argument. It just degrading to people whose human rights are genuinely being abused and who want for the basics like clean water, shelter and protection from violence.
Pladda from Jura
Commuter from Jura/islayetc., If you do not know who I am, then you do not have anything to do with Jura. If you have never had a problem with the ferry, then you do not have anything to do with Jura. Regardless of your stupid comment and the fact that you are hiding behind a stupid name, I publish who I am and once again, if you do not know 'who are you people?' then you have nothing to do with Jura so GO AWAY!! You can of course, come and see me at Jura Stores, if you wish or do you wish to remain a coward and hide behind a REALLY STUPID name?
Stephen from Jura
Jurastores your blog has many valid points and brings to the surface what many people feel but are afraid to say. Your comments are perhaps a bit pointed in some respects, you almost sound like newsonjura. But you have let yourself down with your response to Commuter from where ever. He or she do appear to live on another island from us, but why should he or she put their name on the blog? Is that not the point of the blog, that we can put forward opinions with out being challenged to 'see me at Jura Stores'. Very OK Coral type stuff. Remember, not everyone is brazen.
the house on the hill from jura
Oh Gwen I am very much on the same island as you, I think you are missing the point, I know there is problems with the new pier but you can't go blaming the crew. I also stand by my comment that I have never had a problem with our ferry service or it's crew, though I do have a major issue with meaningless rants! There may well have been 70 people at the public meeting but I don't actually think they attended to slag the crew or the service, the slipway was the main topic. By the way as far as I am aware double runs are still on going. Stephen hope you don't mind but I'm off to get the ferry and pop in to the co-op - chill.
commuter from aboard the jura ferry
Did anyone see the word CREW in my previous return comment to Commuter? NO. Who's trying to wind people up here? My point is, pay attention here Communter, that since the redevelopment of Port Askaig the Jura ferry service is worse than it was before. For instance last Thursday passengers went down to catch the 3.15 ferry to connect with the bus leaving Port Askaig with an onward connection to Port Charlotte. The Cal-Mac ferry was running late, the Jura ferry did a run as soon as they could - which was good but unusual given the problems with the new slipway - but then had to wait on the Jura side until the Cal-Mac ferry left before returning to Port Askaig when they could use the link span berth, had they been able to return immediatelay and use the new slipway the passengers could have caught the bus. Needless to say the passengers missed the bus and, as that was the last connecting bus to Port Charlotte, were faced with walking, hitching or paying for a taxi - this was not a one off event. You, commuter, are obviously smugly happy with the service as it is and as it serves you (long may it last but it's early days yet, isn't it?) however it is not all about you and there are serious issues here which need following through and resolving and believe me there are many here on Jura that are not happy with what we've got now and with just cause. What may be meaningless to you is of great importance to others and to the future stability and economy of Jura. E.g. anyone remember that at the public meeting Peter Ward, A&BC, stated that the lighting problem on the new slipway would be resolved in two/three weeks ??? Well it's now four weeks on and I don't see any bright shining new lights at the new slipway. Hate to mention it but the nights are drawing in and if the lighting problem (we've only been waiting eight months now) is not sorted soon the 9.30 p.m. service will just not be happening and anyone travelling back to Jura on the late Cal-Mac boat can forget about getting home the same day. Another backward step for Jura - after all the effort that went into securing these connecting services. P.S. Communter, some double runs happen, unfortunately some don't, lets hope that you are never one of the ones left to wait that extra hour in order to get home or to get to work, or when you've appoinments to keep, or onward travel connections with boats or planes to make, but perhaps you are fortunate enough to be so laid back and your life style such that waiting that extra hour or so will be a joy, something to savour and cherish. Good for you. In the meantime, in the real world, Jura's got problems and they need sorting.
Gwen from Craighouse
Gwen, I apologize, how inconsiderate of me wasting all your time, so I have decided not to reply to your frustated rants and let you have a decent nights sleep. P.S. everyone is entitled to their opinion.
commuter from Feolin
Commuter appeared to be responding to jurastores veiled comments which seemed to refer to the crew. Thankyou commuter, well said my sentiments exactly. I think enough is enough and we should be more positive in our outlook.
Happy Chappie from Near By
NOT ok corral, just why be afraid to use your proper name? I welcome a discussion and maybe try to convince re the problems. I very much doubt that anyone who lives on Jura has not had a problem with the ferry at some time in the past year or so. Commuter made a quote "everyone is entitled to their opinion" so why is he/she deriding others for expressing their's? Also, commuter, if you wish to shop at the Co-Op, good on you, that's your choice and of no interest of mine, it's a free world, you can do what you want. OH! Sorry, was that a "get at me?" Sorry to upset you but I am not in the least bit bothered. I am only the shopkeeper of the moment, a blink of the eye, I will not be here in 20 years time and when I retire (or die) the property will have enough value, just as a property, to satisfy the needs of my family. So on you go, with my blessing.
Stephen from Jura
Commuter, there is a vast difference between ranting and stating facts and without doubt the facts are that Jura faces many ongoing problems with the ferry service.
House on the Edge from Craighouse
Please read the original jurastores blog, which is what I was refering to. I am well aware of the pier situation but that was not my issue and I don't need patronizing lectures. I still think we have an excellent ferry service and in time all will be resovled. Stephen I am so glad you are not bothered, neither am I. Please feel free to sing out loud " I am sailing I am sailing home again......." Love and Peace to you all.
commuter from the sound of islay
The perfect solution to all your problems is to join me on the Ark and leave your troubles behind. Commuter I understand if you decline the offer as you seem perfectly contented. Yes what a voyage it will be!
Rev. A. Lation from Ark. H.Q
ANOTHER Ark, Rev. A Lation? Did you abandon the first one (surely it was not a year ago, was it?) in the hot climes? Or did Ark I follow the Titanic's fate?
mjc from IN,NM
Due to the much talked about global warming I started the Ark a year ago but due to my work committments I had to postpone the voyage. After reading the recent blogs I have taken the Ark out of storage, treated the woodworm and dry rot, so I can relocate these stressed individuals to a more suitable location, any suggestions?
Rev. A. Lation from Ark. H.Q
St. Kilda's, Rev A Lation? As it is no longer inhabited, the newcomers won't have to fight with the natives, but will merely devote their attention to each other.
mjc from IN, USA
What a jolly good idea mjc, this will solve so many island problems and we may begin a more peaceable era.
Rev. A. Lation from Ark. H.Q
Rockall...but not for Stephen and Gwen who sound like the dual voices of reason and sense.
Flying Cat from Orkney Mainland
The silence of Tombstone?
mjc from IN, USA
...and the tumbleweed blows silently down the main street of Craighouse...
Flying Cat from woohoooooooo
If a word is worth a coin, silence is worth two.
Rev. A. Lation from Bermuda Triangle
What struck me, when being whisked past Port Askaig by a brisk spring tide, was the contrast between the new pier and the dilapidated ferry. But from the above comments it is obvious that the state of the ferry is far less important than how it is used. This blog is definitely not an ad. for removing to Jura, which George Orwell described as eminently "ungetatable". It seems thing haven't changed in half a century unless one counts the new fast ferry from Craighouse to the mainland (no cars, of course) at £15 for a single ticket - and then you have to get to Oban by road somehow. Islanders, especially Jura dwellers, are a perservering race. I doff my hat in respect.
Barney from Swithiod on the sideline
Barney, when it comes to Jura, the sideline is a good place to claim. If Coll can have an international airport, why should Jura not have a heliport?
mjc from IN, USA
i dont understand
jessieroo from beltown
Living on the Isle of Jura
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