Jura Community Council
Posted: Thursday, 29 May 2008 |
Islanders say it is time for Community Council to go.
Many islanders on the Island of Jura are talking about asking their Community Council to resign. A resident who wishes to remain anonymous says 鈥渨e have a major ferry problem which has been going on for months but they just sit around talking but do nothing.鈥
The problem lies with the ferry link between the Islands of Jura and Islay which allows access to the mainland ferry. The recent restructuring of Pork Askaig pier by Argyll & Bute Council (estimated cost 拢12 million) has not gone to plan with major disruptions to the life line link between the two islands. The number of sailings a day has been reduced and because the small ferry can not use the new slip at certain tides the Island of Jura becomes cut of with no access to emergency services such as ambulance and fire service. Only last week when the police were called to an incident, they had to cross as passengers with no equipment or vehicle support. Caledonian MacBrayne who run ferries to Islay has just announced that they have to adjust their schedule due to the problems in Port Askaig.
The chairman, of the local Jura Initiative at the Edge group, has recently publicly spoken out about the disruption being caused to the island and its economy. The Initiative at the Edge is taking the lead on the island to improve access to and from the island. A new passenger service, to the mainland which is due to start next month has been instigated by the group. They hope that this will alleviate some of the existing problems. Special arrangements have been made for the public bus services to link up with the new super fast service.
Matters came to a head on Thursday when representatives of Argyll and Bute Council and Arch Henderson the design engineers came to look at Port Askaig. Residents are furious that the Community Councillors did not turn up. One of the islander鈥檚 councillors said 鈥渨e were aware that engineers were coming to look at the Jura slip in Port Askaig and await their report on how this problem will be solved.鈥 The local shopkeeper and the Initiative at the Edge chairman had tried to organise the islands residents to go over and challenge the councils senior employees. A resident commented 鈥渢he Community Council say that they are trying to organise a public meeting but when they had the opportunity to take the Council to task they ran away. These guys are just a joke it is time they went. The whole island thinks that but are afraid to say it.鈥
In the mean time residents and businesses are happy that the holiday weekend passed successfully. The annual Jura Fell race organized by the local distillery was held with the island population jumping from 190 to 500. Normally this causes the ferry service problems but this year it was even more difficult.
Argyll and Bute Council who are responsible for the ferry service have just announced that they are intending using a couple of planks of wood to solve the ferry loading problems.
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Many islanders on the Island of Jura are talking about asking their Community Council to resign. A resident who wishes to remain anonymous says 鈥渨e have a major ferry problem which has been going on for months but they just sit around talking but do nothing.鈥
The problem lies with the ferry link between the Islands of Jura and Islay which allows access to the mainland ferry. The recent restructuring of Pork Askaig pier by Argyll & Bute Council (estimated cost 拢12 million) has not gone to plan with major disruptions to the life line link between the two islands. The number of sailings a day has been reduced and because the small ferry can not use the new slip at certain tides the Island of Jura becomes cut of with no access to emergency services such as ambulance and fire service. Only last week when the police were called to an incident, they had to cross as passengers with no equipment or vehicle support. Caledonian MacBrayne who run ferries to Islay has just announced that they have to adjust their schedule due to the problems in Port Askaig.
The chairman, of the local Jura Initiative at the Edge group, has recently publicly spoken out about the disruption being caused to the island and its economy. The Initiative at the Edge is taking the lead on the island to improve access to and from the island. A new passenger service, to the mainland which is due to start next month has been instigated by the group. They hope that this will alleviate some of the existing problems. Special arrangements have been made for the public bus services to link up with the new super fast service.
Matters came to a head on Thursday when representatives of Argyll and Bute Council and Arch Henderson the design engineers came to look at Port Askaig. Residents are furious that the Community Councillors did not turn up. One of the islander鈥檚 councillors said 鈥渨e were aware that engineers were coming to look at the Jura slip in Port Askaig and await their report on how this problem will be solved.鈥 The local shopkeeper and the Initiative at the Edge chairman had tried to organise the islands residents to go over and challenge the councils senior employees. A resident commented 鈥渢he Community Council say that they are trying to organise a public meeting but when they had the opportunity to take the Council to task they ran away. These guys are just a joke it is time they went. The whole island thinks that but are afraid to say it.鈥
In the mean time residents and businesses are happy that the holiday weekend passed successfully. The annual Jura Fell race organized by the local distillery was held with the island population jumping from 190 to 500. Normally this causes the ferry service problems but this year it was even more difficult.
Argyll and Bute Council who are responsible for the ferry service have just announced that they are intending using a couple of planks of wood to solve the ferry loading problems.
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Posted on newsonjura at 09:56
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