Jura Community Council
Posted: Thursday, 29 May 2008 |
Comments
I'm sure there was someone blogging about Jura ages ago and it sounds like nothing has changed! The two planks of wood wouldn't be Community Council members would they?...useful at last...
Flying Cat from Cheshire Grin
Don't you mean Incomers not Islanders, for you certainly aren't speaking for me and mine. If you have such a terrible problem getting to and fro I suggest you relocate.
not a white settler from Craighouse
Odd how the Jura comments are usually acerbic, in contrast to most of the other blogs. perhaps it's not suprising that Jura blogs are few and far between. I found this blog very interesting. I saw the PA rebuilding last summer, looked to be a lot of engineering but it was not far enough advanced to get an idea of the final outcome. Isalnders must have wills of iron to survive all the difficulties.
Barney from Swithiod speaking out
Dear, dear!! Not a white settler, but white hot? Not a dark settler, but dark mutterings? The old dichotomy between incomers and natives raises its head again. It would be interesting to hear Craighouse argue the merits of his position, or the demerits of newson jura (he can't relocate 'cause he can't get to the ferry, so he claims). Oh, hullo there Arnish: how is the NHS doing on Jura?
mjc from NM,USA
Most of what has been said is true, with a few exceptions. I think the community council are beaten over the head about many issues, Many are not there fault. How many people go to the Community Council meetings and let them know how they feel? Not many! I also think that because people do not go to the meetings, the CC feel a lack of support from the community. Having said all that, the issues are many and varied. What is happening here is that the recent incomers are wanting to change things to suit them and as such are making their voices heard the loudest, shooting themselves in the foot because many Islanders feel resentment against them, rightly so! If you come to Jura to live, you do so because of what we have here, why then try to change it. If it's too hot in the kitchen get out! Don't smash a window to let in the cold air. Having said all that, I feel that Jura residents are the forgotten few, nobody cares and A & B Council could not give a damn about us. Ferry service is crap, roads are crap and they just fob off any and all complaints. Apprantley the way they divide the roads budget for the year of 拢1 million for Jura, Islay and Colonsay is to divide the road miles by the number of residents and allocate funds on that basis. This means that Jura will always receive the smallest amount funding for road repairs. Whats a million quid anyway, peanuts! Never mind blaming the CC, it's A & B Council that are to blame. Jura exists, people live here, we pay our taxes (including road tax) and the distillery creat's millions of pounds per year in tax paid to the treasury, yet we are treated like a third world country. Never mind blaming the CC, we should all become more pro active, go to the meetings, show them you care and give them your support. Having said all the aforementioned, I still think they should have gone to Port Askaig last thursday and they should hang their heads in shame for not doing so!
am a white settler from Craighouse
I agree it is time the Community Council done something. What is the point of having an elected group if they do nothing. If you want to get bored take a look at the minutes on the Craighouse noticeboard. Nothing to report - nothing to report - nothing to report - What do they discuss at their meetings ?
unhappy from Craighouse
What do they discuss at their meetings ? unhappy from Craighouse Same as every other useless CC from every other island including COLL, "nothing to report"
TC from COLL
It is time something was done. These groups - the JCC - IatE -JDT do nothing for the island. All they can do is pontificate about and waste our money. Replace them all. Lets do it for Jura.
Fly the flag from Jura
I didn't want to but having read all the comments I just have to put in my tuppence worth. Firstly the incomers/non-incomers comments in the blog are completely negative and unhelpful. The fact is that once again Jura has been totally shafted by A&BC with regard to the new ferry slipway in Port Askaig. Whether you have lived here for the past 2,000 years or the last two is immaterial. What is going on now concerns us all and we should be united in trying to get a resolution to the problem. It is pointless and ridiculous to say that people should not stay here if they can't get to and fro, why should anyone accept an inferior service to the one we had until two years ago because A&BC have seriously messed up? In good faith, and with the promise of an improved service, Jura supported A&BC in the proposed redevelopment of Port Askaig. Now if we do not fight our corner for at least as good a slipway facility as we had before the redevelopment then Jura is in for a bleak future of years of continual daily ferry disruptions - unless of course all the Cal-Mac sailings go to Port Ellen giving Jura the sole use of the link span - is that what we really want? I don't think so. As far as the press release, I am in total agreement with all it said. The Community Council were advised by the ferry crew some ten months ago (before the concrete for the new slipway was even poured) that there was a problem, that the ferry would not be able to operate from the new slipway. Jura Community Councils attitude at the time was, despite the information and advice of the ferry crew, they would wait and see. Well we waited and we have seen, the ferry crews advice ten months ago, based on their expertise and experience was sound and should have been acted on. At the very least Jura Community Council should have made it known to A&BC that they had grave and serious reasons for misgivings about the configuration of the new slipway. As the press release said the Community Council did not go to Port Askaig and take advantage of the presence of both A&BC and Arch Henderson to make Jura's feelings known, nor did anyone from the Community Council attend the A&BC Area Committee Meeting on Colonsay on Wednesday 7th May when it was on the Agenda that a report would be given on the slipway situation. This would have been an excellent opportunity for Jura Community Council to make strong representations to A&BC about the unacceptability of the present situation. Now we have major problems, it would appear that A&BC are in total denial that they have messed up. So far their solution is to fix a couple of planks of wood onto the new slipway. They say this will solve some of the problems (not according to the ferry crews, it won;t) but, thereafter, we will have to cope with the new slipway and it's limitations as best we can. If the ferry can run then we will have a ferry and if it can't we won't and we'll just have to put up with it best we can for at least ten years until we get a new boat, BUT, now here's a funny thing A&BC admit that even a new boat wouldn't fit the slipway either - it would still have to be altered ! This is a totally unacceptable situation. After spending millions of public money and putting all those that use the Jura ferry, whether resident, visitor, worker, whoever, through almost two years of disruption, frustration and wasted time and money the very least we should expect is that we have an equivalent designated useable Jura slipway facility as we had before the re-development of Port Askaig - ANYTHING LESS IS JUST NOT ON -and we should not, must not, accept it. I understand that the above press release is being discounted by some of the Community Council members as it is anonymous. Perhaps it is time for the elected meembers of the Community Council to ask themselves why someone would feel so strongly as to write and circulate something like the press release but feel that they cannot go to the Community Council with their concerns? From experience I can totally understand
Gwen Boardman from Craighouse
Informative and well reasoned, Gwen Boardman. All the best to Jura folks. Hope you get redress promptly.
mjc from NM,USA
Very interesting indeed. I often skim long comments, but this one is worth taking the time to read in its entirety. If there were 200 like you on Jura, Gwen, things would get done instead of just moaned about!
Flying Cat from an admiring glance
Very well explained Gwen, good luck. Read about it in the Oban Times too. Best wishes to you and to the triers and the do-ers on Jura.
Squidgy the Otter from Taking my hat off to Gwen
jura ferry rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
me from jura
Is Steve the Shop STILL not King of Jura? All would be solved..
Jura emigre from Wales
I find articles like this completely useless, unless the author has the guts to place a name. What is there to be afraid of. Everyone is intitled to their comments and this is an ideal venue for it. I have skipped throught the comments and only one has had the wherefore to place a name after it. Would the aurthor like to state how many CC meetings has been attented for the above comments to be made. The frustration of this unamed person is understood, we are all frustrated, but as as a white settler of almost three years, one should learn by watching and listening to the locals, which include the CC and add constructive comments when required. Be brave, put your name to your comments or Blogs.
Michael Varley from Keils, Jura
newsonjura what dribble. Flying Cat, go fly somewhere else. Gwen Boardman from Jura, what can we say. I suppose 'big fish' said it all. Michael Varley from Keils, all we can say is, Lord help the Keils Crofters. In fact if you all live on Jura, Lord help us all. Wee George you have a lot of work to do.
the house on the hill from jura
the house on the hill. What are you on? You talk in riddles, who and what did 'big fish' say? If you want to be taken seriously, use your real name.
Stephen from Jura Stores
ah ha. The shop man RETURNS
the house on the hill from jura
Yes, and isn't afraid to put his name to blogs. What's your problem? Coward, man or mouse?
Stephen from Jura
Inert object actually
the house on the hill from jura
Inert object? Well said, here is what you are: In chemistry, the term inert is used to describe something that is not chemically active. The noble gases were described as being inert because they did not react with the other elements or themselves. It is now understood that the reason that inert gases are completely inert to basic chemical reactions (such as combustion, for example), is because their outer valence shell is completely filled with electrons. With a filled outer valence shell, an inert atom is not easily able to acquire or lose an electron, and is therefore not able to participate in any chemical reactions. For inert atoms or molecules, a lot of energy is involved before it can combine with other elements to form compounds. A high temperature and pressure is necessary, and sometimes requires the presence of a catalyst. For example, elemental nitrogen is inert under standard room conditions and exists as a diatomic molecule, N2. The inertness of nitrogen is due to the presence of the very strong triple covalent bond in the N2 molecule. Are you sure you are "inert"? Or just some lonely person who cannot interact with others? How I love this blogging!
Stephen from Jura
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