DOES TARBERT NEED A TOURIST OFFICE?

‘It’s terrible, because we get people coming in here asking us for information. It’s a good resource.’ Catriona Arnot, Loch Fyne Gallery staff member. ‘It’s a disgrace. It’s mad, even if it was just simply for the limited hours in October but we definitely need something in the summer months.

‘They keep talking about the internet but you can’t use it here. People arrive here and if they don’t get an email saying the time of the ferry has changed, they don’t get on it. I think they’re shooting themselves in the foot if they’re trying to promote the country.’ James Hamilton, Whisky West Coast.

‘It’s going to be a big miss in the village. I don’t know what they’re trying to do to small places.’

‘I’m not happy about it. They are a mine of information and when it closes, I don’t know what we’ll do because our internet signal is so sketchy around here.’ Christine Entwistle, Harbour Gallery.

‘I think it’s a great pity. We bring our yachts to Tarbert and we went in just to find out travel arrangements – a different way to get home on different routes – and sometimes we need rooms. It’s useful and they’re very good in there.’ Visitor Marilyn Lord from Ayrshire.

Another visitor commented that it ‘is a big miss in Dunoon’ since its iCentre closed recently. Flora Shaw, Earra Gael gift shop.